Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the 500 league goal mark after scoring a quad-trick as Al-Nassr ran out 4-0 winners away at newly-promoted Al-Wehda in Thursday’s Saudi Professional League action.
Ronaldo, who celebrated his 38th birthday last Sunday, joined Saudi powerhouses Al-Nassr as a free agent following his controversial exit from Manchester United back in December, however a two-match suspension served at him for misconduct following his confrontation with an Everton fan back in April of 2022 meant that Ronaldo had a slow start to life so far in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Nassr travel to the holy city of Mecca to take on Al-Wehda at the King Abdul Aziz Stadium as they seek to extend their lead at the Saudi Pro League table. With 2nd placed Al-Shabab taking on last-placed Al-Batin at the same day, 3rd placed Al-Ittihad hosting Al-Adalah on Friday, and 4th placed Al-Hilal still away at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, a win for Al-Nassr would maintain a cushion between themselves and the chasing pack, especially considering both Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal still have matches in hand.
Al-Wehda, who have Dynamo Kyiv loanee Gerson Rodrigues and former Persija Jakarta target Jean-David Beauguel amongst their ranks, were simply no match for a ruthless Al-Nassr side, with the Knights of Mecca finding themselves 1-0 down in the 21st minute thanks to a sweet left-footed shot from Ronaldo – his 500th league goal.
Ronaldo’s right foot then did the talking in the 40th minute to double Al-Nassr’s lead in the 40th minute, before the former Real Madrid star sealed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute with, rather predictably, a penalty. The hat-trick was Ronaldo’s 61st for both club and country.
Al-Wehda goalie Abdulquddus Atiah was forced to pick the ball out of the net for the fourth time in the 61st minute after Ronaldo struck home a rebounded shot after his initial effort was saved.
Ronaldo’s Mecca quad-trick was his first since scoring four for Portugal in a 5-1 win away at Lithuania back in September 2019, and brought his total league goals to 503. The quadtrick also adds to Ronaldo’s first-ever Al-Nassr goal, a last-gasp penalty in a 2-2 draw with Al-Fateh last week, bringing up his Saudi tally to five.