Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick within 15 minutes to lead Al-Nassr to a 5-3 victory over Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League, raising his career goal tally to 985, just 15 goals away from 1,000. The 41-year-old forward achieved the feat in the second half, scoring in the 66th, 72nd, and 81st minutes to secure the win. Al-Nassr’s victory extended their points to 28 in the league. Ronaldo celebrated the milestone on social media, writing, “Ein fantastischer Sieg, eine herausragende Mannschaftsleistung. Ich bin so glücklich, einen Hattrick beigetragen zu haben!” Vietnam.vn.

Ronaldo’s 15-Minute Hat-Trick

Ronaldo’s three goals in 15 minutes came after Al-Kholood had rallied from a 1-0 deficit to 2-2 at halftime. The Portuguese star took control in the second half, with his first strike in the 66th minute putting Al-Nassr ahead. His second in the 72nd extended the lead, and his third in the 81st sealed the 5-3 result. The match, played at Al Awwal Park, saw Ronaldo record a 9.2 rating from Sofascore, the highest of any player.

Al-Kholood took an early lead when Julien Domingues scored in the 16th minute, but Ângelo Gabriel and Sadio Mané turned the game in Al-Nassr’s favor by halftime. The visitors equalized in the 45th minute through Antoin Essomba, ending the first half at 2-2. Ronaldo's dominance in the second half was highlighted by his 22 ball touches, six shots on goal, and an expected goal (xG) of 1.97, despite two of his goals being disallowed for offside. João Félix played a pivotal role in the attack, with his assist contributing to Ronaldo’s first goal.

While official records credit him with the strike, some platforms, including Opta, suggested it was an own goal by Al-Kholood’s Andrei Girotto. The dispute did not detract from Ronaldo’s performance, which earned him and teammate João Félix the highest match ratings from Sofascore.

Path to 1,000 Goals

With 985 career goals, Ronaldo is 15 away from becoming the first player to reach 1,000 official goals. The milestone could come in the 2026/27 season, his final year with Al-Nassr. The forward has expressed confidence in achieving the mark, stating in a December interview that it is his “great goal.” Vietnam.vn cited Ronaldo’s recent comments: “I want to leave a spectacular legacy.”

Ronaldo’s goal-scoring prowess has been consistent across clubs, with 450 goals during his nine seasons at Real Madrid and 101 at Juventus. His career includes 146 goals for Portugal, including a record 118 in competitive matches. The forward also noted that his 985 goals include 145 during his time at Manchester United and five at Sporting Lisbon.

His performance against Al-Kholood has led to his recall by coach Jorge Jesus. The ban, which ended in October, had temporarily excluded him from the squad, but he is now in the provisional list for upcoming fixtures.

Legacy and Future

Ronaldo’s 41-year-old hat-trick against Al-Kholood marked his first in over two years and highlighted his enduring elite form. Ronaldo said in a 2024 interview with Vogue, “This is probably my last year in football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” hinting at the possibility of retiring after the 2026/27 season.

Ronaldo’s recent Hattrick in the Saudi Pro League highlights his continued goal-scoring contributions for Al-Nassr. With 15 goals needed for 1,000, he has expressed optimism about the target, stating, “This extraordinary milestone is my great goal.” His performance against Al-Kholood has reignited discussions about his potential to achieve the feat.