Cristiano Ronaldo produced a clinical display of finishing as he netted four times to lead Al-Nassr to a 4-0 win against Al-Wehda on Thursday.
After scoring a last-minute penalty to rescue a point for his new club last week, Ronaldo did not leave it so late this time, opening his account for the evening with a left-footed strike into the bottom corner midway through the first half.
He doubled his tally shortly before half time, calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.
The 38-year-old had to wait over two minutes to see whether he had just strayed offside in the build-up, but the goal was eventually given.
A header would have given him the perfect hat-trick, but he had to settle for a penalty instead, rifling his spot-kick into the bottom corner to complete his hat-trick in the 51st minute.
Ronaldo opened his account with a precise left-footed finish into the far corner of the net
Ronaldo was delighted when his second goal was given after a lengthy VAR check
Piers Morgan congratulated Ronaldo after he passed 500 career league goals
He even had time to add a fourth, latching onto a through ball and tucking home the rebound after his initial effort was kept out.
Ronaldo passed the milestone of 500 career league goals during the evening, and was congratulated on his achievement by close friend Piers Morgan afterwards.
‘BREAKING: Cristiano Ronaldo scores all 4 goals in Al-Nassr’s 4-0 win at Al-Wehda, passing 500 League goals in his career,’ Morgan tweeted.
‘He’s now scored 61 hat-tricks, 30 before he was 30, 31 since he turned 30. He’s now 38. Astounding. Congrats @Cristiano.’
Ronaldo infamously sat down with Morgan for a tell-all interview in November when he was still playing for Manchester United, and went on to criticise the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
This spelt the end of his time at Old Trafford, and his contract was ripped up by mutual consent later that month.
Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a penalty early in the second half
Ronaldo scored his and his team’s fourth goal by tapping home a rebound from close range
Just over a month after his bitter exit, Ronaldo put pen to paper on a lucrative £175m-a-year deal with Al-Nassr, but proceeded to make a slow start to his career in Saudi Arabia.
Having had to wait for his debut due to a suspension hanging over him from his time in England, Ronaldo then failed to find the net in either of his first two appearances for his new club.
But he finally got off the mark with an injury-time penalty in a 2-2 draw against Al-Fateh last week, and looked sharp in front of goal on Thursday.
He now has five goals in his last two matches, and Al-Nassr have moved top of the Saudi Pro League on goal difference.
Ronaldo will get the chance to continue his fine form when Al-Nassr host Al-Taawoun next Friday.
source: dailymail.co.uk
