Cristiano Ronaldo Scores a Hat-trick as Al-Nassr Crush Al-Tai 5-1

Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half hat trick helped Al-Nassr beat visiting Al-Tai 5-1 in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has a league-leading 26 goals for the Riyadh club he signed for in December 2022.

Al-Nassr, a nine-time champion, was 2-1 ahead at the break. Ronaldo had been almost anonymous but scored his first after 64 minutes, turning in the right side of the area to fire home a low shot after a pull-back from Senegalese star Sadio Mane.

Three minutes later, Ronaldo added his second and Al-Nassr’s fourth. Al-Tai failed to clear and the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player was on hand to score from close range.

Abdulmajeed Al-Sulayhim was the provider for the third goal, crossing to the 39-year-old Ronaldo to head home at the far post for his second hat trick of the season.

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With nine assists, Ronaldo has the second highest offensive contributions in league history, behind only Abderrazak Hamdallah, who recorded a total of 43 in the 2018-19 season, also for Al-Nassr.

Despite Ronaldo’s exploits, Al-Nassr remained second in the league, 12 points behind Riyadh rival Al-Hilal with nine rounds remaining.

Al-Hilal came from behind to defeat Al-Shabab 4-3. After Musab Al-Juwayr gave Al-Shabab a third-minute lead, Mitrovic scored twice to put Al-Hilal ahead before the break.

Former Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Asian player of the year Salem Al-Dawsari also scored as Al-Hilal won an 18th consecutive league game to stay on course for a record 19th league title.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)