Can you believe Cristiano Ronaldo just notched his 985th career strike? The Portuguese ace delivered a rapid hat‑trick for Al Nassr, sealing a 5‑3 victory over Al Kholood in Round 12 at Riyadh’s Alawwal Park.
The opening half erupted in chaos. An early off‑side call erased Ronaldo’s chance, then Julien Domingues gave Al Kholood the lead. Angelo answered with a Joao Felix pass, Sadio Mane flipped the game on the break, and Loic Essomba forced a 2‑2 deadlock just before halftime.
Ronaldo saw another effort wiped out for off‑side right after the tie, marking two nullified goals in the first period and three in his last two outings.
After the interval the star redeemed himself. He put Al Nassr ahead 3‑2 in the 66th minute, courtesy of a Felix assist, then struck again six minutes later to make it 4‑2, once more set up by Felix. A final finish in the 81st, assisted by Mane, completed the hat‑trick. Al Kholood reduced the margin late, but the hosts held on for the 5‑3 win that propels them to the league summit—for now, until Al Hilal meets Al Fateh.
Why does the Saudi Pro League’s tally differ, and will it finally align with global counts?
The 985 tally includes a goal from the 3‑1 triumph over Al Faisaly on Oct. 23 that the Saudi league failed to record for Ronaldo. Some local reporters say the league credited the strike to him, yet the official site listed four goals this season before tonight, not five. By that count the hat‑trick lifts him to 984 career goals, one shy of the figure reported by Fabrizio Romano and others.
For my money, Ronaldo’s ability to dominate at 41 shows age is just a number in world football.
Now 41, he keeps finding the net as Al Nassr chase a fourth straight win and close the gap on the leaders. Whether the Saudi league ever corrects its records, each match nudges the Portuguese legend nearer to an historic milestone.