Cristiano Ronaldo scored four goals to reach the milestone of 500 league goals in his career as Al Nassr defeated Al Wehda 4-0 on Thursday night.
The forward from Portugal, who turned 38 on Sunday, scored twice in a 40-minute span on either side of halftime.
For five different clubs in five different leagues, he has already scored 503 league goals.
He scored 311 goals for Real Madrid in La Liga, 81 for Juventus in Serie A, and three for Sporting Lisbon in the Portuguese top division, his first professional club.
The record for the most league goals, the most active career hat-tricks, and the most official goals have all been beaten by Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored a hat trick 14 times in a row (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
The five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or joined Al Nassr in December, reportedly earning £177 million annually.
He did not, however, have the most successful start with his new employers, scoring just one goal from the penalty spot in his first three competitive games.
Ronaldo did not wait till the very end this time after salvaging a point for his new team last week with a last-second penalty, scored the game’s first goal with a left-footed strike into the bottom corner midway through the first half.
Just before halftime, he added another goal by coolly slipping the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
The 38-year-old had to wait more than two minutes before the goal was awarded after an offside check.
He was forced to complete his hat-trick with a penalty, firing it into the bottom corner in the 51st minute.
Even after his initial attempt was sent away, he still had time to add a fourth goal, latching onto a through ball and burying the rebound.
During the course of the evening, Ronaldo reached the landmark of 500 league goals for his career. Close friend Piers Morgan later complimented him on his accomplishment.
When he was still playing for Manchester United in November, Ronaldo infamously sat down with Morgan for a tell-all interview and lambasted the team and manager Erik ten Hag.
His time at Old Trafford was over as a result, and later that month, his contract was terminated amicably.
Ronaldo left Manchester United in November after two stints there during which he amassed 103 league goals.
Just over a month after his painful departure, Ronaldo signed a lucrative £175 million contract with Al-Nassr, but his career in Saudi Arabia got off to a sluggish start.
After being delayed in making his debut because of a suspension from his time in England, Ronaldo then failed to score in either of his first two games for his new team.
He did, however, ultimately score with a late penalty in a 2-2 draw with Al-Fateh last week, and he displayed good goal-scoring ability on Thursday.
SEE ALL FOUR GOALS HERE:
Al-Nassr have risen to the top of the Saudi Pro League on the basis of goal differential thanks to his five goals in his past two games.
Next Friday’s match between Al-Nassr and Al-Taawoun will provide Ronaldo the chance to keep up his excellent streak.
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