Cristiano Ronaldo moved closer to one of football’s biggest milestones on Thursday, scoring three times in 15 second-half minutes as Al Nassr beat Al Khouba 5-3 in the Saudi Pro League. The 29 October result took his reported career tally to 985, leaving him 15 goals short of 1,000. At 41, Ronaldo is still producing decisive moments, and this performance came on a night when he had already received a new individual honour. For Al Nassr, the goals also secured three important points in the title race.

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Ronaldo turns the game around for Al Nassr

The match was level at 2-2 at half-time after an open first half. Al Kholood took the lead through Julien Domingues in the 16th minute, before Ângelo Gabriel equalised. Sadio Mané then put the hosts ahead, but Antoine Essomba restored parity in stoppage time. Ronaldo changed the contest after the break. He scored in the 66th minute to make it 3-2, then headed in a João Félix delivery six minutes later. His third arrived in the 81st minute, finishing a move involving Mané. Domingues scored a late penalty for Al Kholood, but Al Nassr held on. It was Ronaldo’s seventh hat-trick for Al Nassr since joining in 2023. The treble also took his career hat-trick count to 67.

B.O.A.T. award adds to Ronaldo’s night

The goals were not the only reason Ronaldo had something to celebrate. He was named winner of the inaugural B.O.A.T. award, short for Ballon d’Or of All Time. The fan vote recognised his 2008 season at Manchester United, which finished ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign. The award is separate from the official Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo has won that prize five times, with his first coming after the 2007-08 campaign, when Manchester United lifted the Premier League and Champions League titles. The latest recognition revisits a season that helped shape his standing in the game.

The 1,000-goal target moves closer

Ronaldo has spoken openly about wanting to reach 1,000 career goals. In a 2024 conversation with former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, he called it a major ambition and pointed to fitness and avoiding injuries as important factors. His reported total of 985 includes goals for club and country. Real Madrid accounts for the largest share of his hat-tricks, with 44 during his time in Spain. He has also recorded 10 for Portugal, seven for Al Nassr, three for Manchester United and three for Juventus. The win kept Al Nassr on 28 points, level with Saudi Pro League leaders Al Qadsiah, who had played one more match.

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Al Kholood stayed 10th on 12 points. Ronaldo’s next goals will be watched closely, but Al Nassr’s immediate task is to maintain their title challenge. The 1,000 mark is close, but still requires 15 more finishes. The result mattered beyond the personal milestone. Al Nassr needed a response in the title race, and Ronaldo delivered when the match was finely balanced after the break.

Editor - Neha

Neha is the Co-Director & Editor at sportselite.in, drawn to the stories that give Sports their energy beyond the scoreboard. She brings clarity, context, and a human perspective to coverage across Elite Sports, from standout performances to shifting team dynamics and memorable contests. At sportselite.in, Neha helps turn complex sporting developments into engaging stories, keeping readers connected to the people and moments behind the action.

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