Cristiano Ronaldo delivered another remarkable performance for Al Nassr, scoring a 15-minute hat-trick in a thrilling 5-3 victory over Al Kholood. The Portuguese forward took his career tally to 985 goals, moving within touching distance of the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
Among those watching from the stands was heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, who was left amazed by Ronaldo's display. Asked to describe the Al Nassr captain, the undefeated boxer offered a simple verdict: "He's an alien".
Ronaldo's hat trick turns the game in Al Nassr's favour
Al Nassr had to work hard for their victory after Al Kholood made an unexpectedly strong start. The visitors, managed by Des Buckingham, were looking to end a four-match winless run and took the lead through Julien Domingues in the 16th minute.
Angelo restored parity eight minutes later, with Joao Felix providing the assist. Sadio Mane then put the hosts ahead before the break, but Al Kholood refused to back down, as Loic Essomba equalised in first-half stoppage time to make it 2-2.
Ronaldo had already seen first-half attempts ruled out, but his patience was rewarded shortly after the hour mark. In the 66th minute, the forward timed his run perfectly to meet Felix's cut-back and put Al Nassr back in front.
Six minutes later, the same partnership produced another goal. Felix delivered a cross from the right, allowing Ronaldo to rise above the defence and power a header into the net. The Portuguese international completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute, converting Mane's pass with a clinical finish inside the penalty area.
Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 985 career goals
The three goals against Al Kholood took Ronaldo's career tally to 985, leaving him just 15 strikes away from reaching 1,000. The 40-year-old also collected another Man of the Match award after delivering the decisive contribution in an entertaining contest.
Ronaldo celebrated the result on social media, praising his teammates and expressing satisfaction with his own contribution. "Great win, great team performance. Happy to help with a hat-trick!" he wrote.
Felix also enjoyed an outstanding evening, finishing with four assists. The reigning Saudi Pro League Player of the Season became only the second player to register four assists in a single match, underlining his importance to Al Nassr's attacking display.
For Ronaldo, the treble was another significant step towards a milestone that has increasingly become a central talking point. With 985 goals already behind him, the Portuguese star needs just 15 more to reach the unprecedented target.
Oleksandr Usyk reacts to Ronaldo's performance
Usyk was among the spectators at Al Awwal Park and had a close-up view of Ronaldo's decisive contribution. The Ukrainian boxing champion, who has established himself among the biggest names in heavyweight boxing, was clearly impressed by what he witnessed.
His description of Ronaldo as "an alien" captured the reaction to a performance in which the forward changed the outcome of the match within just 15 minutes. For a champion accustomed to extraordinary sporting achievements, the Al Nassr captain's consistency was evidently something special.
Al Nassr keeps pressure on Saudi Pro League leaders
The victory lifted Al Nassr to 28 points from 11 matches, leaving them just one point behind league leaders Al Qadsiah. Brendan Rodgers' side maintained their advantage at the summit with a convincing 6-0 win over Al Riyadh.
Tijjani Reijnders scored a hat-trick in that match, while Julian Quinones also found the net. However, Ronaldo's performance ensured that the spotlight remained firmly on Al Nassr's captain.
Al Kholood managed to add a third goal through Domingues, who converted a stoppage-time penalty to complete his brace. By then, however, the result was already beyond doubt.
Another three-goal performance, another important victory, and another step towards 1,000 career goals made it a memorable evening for Ronaldo. Usyk's assessment may have been brief, but it reflected the admiration generated by the Portuguese forward's latest display.