Fifteen second-half minutes were all Cristiano Ronaldo needed. With Al-Nassr level at 2-2 against Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League, he scored three times to turn the game and finish a 5-3 win, taking his career total to 985 goals.
How the Match Turned
Angelo Gabriel and Sadio Mane had put Al-Nassr on the scoreboard before Ronaldo took over. After the break he did the rest in a quarter of an hour. His Portugal team-mate Joao Felix had a hand in it as well, finishing the night with four assists, including the passes for two of Ronaldo's goals. BBC Sport counted it as the striker's 67th career hat-trick.
The Hat-Trick Ledger
The breakdown makes for a good trivia question. Of those 67, seven have come for Al-Nassr, 44 for Real Madrid and 10 for Portugal. Manchester United and Juventus account for three each. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has won league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia, and he is the all-time top goalscorer in men's international football. He is 41.
That age is what makes 985 so striking. The road to 1,000 now looks like a matter of when rather than whether, though the 15 goals still to come will not arrive in a single evening, however good his form.
What Comes Next for Ronaldo and Al-Nassr
Ronaldo has spent almost four years at Al-Nassr, the defending Saudi Pro League champions, and has one year left on his contract. In August he hinted at retirement, saying this was "probably" his last year playing. Nothing in this result changes that, but a player who talks that way and then scores a hat-trick keeps everyone guessing.
In the table, Al-Nassr are second, with a game in hand on the leaders Al-Qadsiah. If Ronaldo and Felix keep combining like this, that game in hand could matter.
Match facts: Al-Nassr 5-3 Al-Kholood, Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo hat-trick in 15 second-half minutes; Angelo Gabriel and Sadio Mane also scored; Joao Felix four assists. Ronaldo: 985 career goals, 67 hat-tricks. Source: BBC Sport.
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