Ronaldo hits 15-minute hat-trick as Al-Nassr edge Al-Kholood 5-3
Cristiano Ronaldo rolled back the years with a stunning 15-minute second-half hat-trick as Al-Nassr beat Al-Kholood 5-3 at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh on Thursday. The 41-year-old's first treble for the club in over two years turned a 2-2 half-time draw into a comfortable win, with João Félix providing four assists including two for Ronaldo's goals at 66 and 72 minutes. Sadio Mané set up the third in the 81st minute to complete the hat-trick.
Ronaldo had two first-half goals ruled out for offside, one via VAR, before Al-Kholood's Julien Domingues opened scoring in the 16th minute. Ângelo Gabriel equalized before Mané put Al-Nassr ahead, only for Antoin Essomba to level in first-half stoppage time. Domingues added a late penalty for the visitors.
The win keeps Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League title hunt. Ronaldo's hat-trick brings him within 15 goals of the unprecedented 1,000-career-goal milestone. At 41, he remains the league's standout performer with 11 goals in 9 appearances this season.
With Ronaldo showing no signs of slowing, can the Portuguese legend become the first footballer to reach 1,000 official career goals before season's end?