Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal-scoring talent appears to have no end as the Portuguese striker scored all four goals for his club Al Nassr against Al Wehda.
The football superstar tore up the Saudi Arabian league on Thursday, when he produced a clinical display of finishing as he netted his first hat-trick for Al-Nassr.
After his brace against Messi’s PSG in what was his opening gift in a friendly, the ex-Man United forward got his first official goal in Asia in the 93rd minute from the penalty spot against Al Fateh to put his side top of the league.
However, it was on the 16th matchday that really let his goal-scoring knack out of the shackles.
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.
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 took to Instagram after the match and said he felt great after his exploits on Thursday and reaching the new landmark.
“Great feeling to have scored 4 goals and reaching my 500th league goal in a very solid win by the team!” said Ronaldo.
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 criticize 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.
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.