15 away from 1,000! Cristiano bags a hat-trick to rescue Al-Nassr
The Portuguese scored three times in 15 minutes to steer a 5–3 win over Al-Kholood and lift his career tally to 985 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo took another leap towards 1,000 goals. The forward scored a hat-trick in Al-Nassr's 5–3 win over Al-Kholood on Thursday, October 29, in Matchday 12 of the Saudi Pro League.
The Portuguese started the match on 982 career goals and finished on 985, just 15 short of the milestone, counting his goals for senior club sides and Portugal's senior national team.
It was a performance that turned a tricky match at Al-Awwal Park. Al-Kholood opened the scoring through Julien Domingues and, although Ângelo and Sadio Mané turned it around for the hosts, Essomba made it 2–2 before half-time.
Cristiano had put the ball in the net in the first half, but the goal was ruled out for offside. His tally started moving after the break.
How he built his hat-trick
- 66th minute: he took a João Félix assist and finished inside the box to make it 3–2.
- 72nd minute: he linked up with Félix again, this time heading in to extend the lead.
- 81st minute: he received a pass from Mané and completed the hat-trick with another finish inside the box.
In that spell, Ronaldo turned a draw into a three-goal lead. His contribution settled the match before Domingues pulled one back with a stoppage-time penalty.
João Félix also played a decisive role: he assisted Al-Nassr's first four goals, including Cristiano's first two. The Portuguese connection powered the attack on an eight-goal night.
For Ronaldo, 41, the takeaway was clear: three valid goals, all in the second half, and an ever-shrinking gap to the target he is chasing.
Cristiano began the matchday 18 goals short of 1,000. He ended it 15 away, after settling with a hat-trick a match that was still level at half-time.
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