On Thursday, October 29, in the 12th round of the Saudi Pro League, Al-Nassr secured a dramatic 5-3 comeback victory over Al-Kholood at home. The match started difficultly for the hosts: already in the 16th minute, Julien Dominguez put the visitors ahead, and in the 45+2nd minute, Essomba doubled Al-Kholood's lead. However, before halftime, Angelo (24th minute) and Sadio Mane (38th minute) leveled the score, and in the second part of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo took center stage to single-handedly decide the outcome.
Three Goals in 15 Minutes: How Ronaldo Completed His Hattrick
After the break, the 41-year-old Portuguese demonstrated rare efficiency: in the 66th, 72nd, and 81st minutes, he hit the back of the Al-Kholood net three times to complete a hattrick. He scored two goals with his feet and the third with a header. Notably, all three goals were scored within a span of just 15 minutes, making the second half truly dramatic. For Ronaldo, this is the 67th hattrick of his professional career and his first since the 2023/2024 season, when Al-Nassr thrashed Al-Wehda 6-0 in the 30th round of the Saudi league.
985 Goals: The Historic 1,000 Milestone Closer Than Ever
Thanks to his hattrick against Al-Kholood, Cristiano Ronaldo brought his professional career goal tally to 985. The legendary milestone of 1,000 goals, previously reached only by Pele in football history, is now just 15 goals away for the Portuguese star. In the current Saudi Pro League season, Ronaldo already has seven goals in ten matches, along with one assist. In the AFC Champions League 2026/2027, the forward has one goal in two games.
Disallowed Goal in the First Half and Four Assists by Joao Felix
It is worth noting that earlier in the first half, Ronaldo put the ball into the Al-Kholood net, but the referee disallowed the goal due to an offside position. Thus, the Portuguese could have scored a poker, but fate had other plans. Joao Felix deserves special mention, as he provided four assists in this match—an exceptionally rare feat for a single player in a single game. Another assist was credited to former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane.
Al-Kholood Fought Back: Dominguez Brace and Injury-Time Penalty
Despite conceding three goals in the second half, Al-Kholood kept fighting until the final whistle. Julien Dominguez scored a brace, and Essomba netted the visitors' third goal. Al-Kholood scored their final goal in stoppage time from a penalty kick, but could not avoid defeat. In the end, Al-Nassr claimed a comeback win and, according to Sports.ru, climbed to the top of the Saudi Pro League table.
Usyk in the Stands: Ukrainian Boxer Supports Al-Nassr
A separate storyline of the match was the presence of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk in the stands, who watched the Al-Nassr game supporting the team wearing a jersey with Ronaldo's name on the back. The famous athlete's appearance at the stadium added extra media attention and drew fans' interest to the event. The match became one of the most discussed of the current Saudi league round due to its goal-scoring intensity and star participants.
