Oleksandr Usyk called Cristiano Ronaldo “an alien” after watching the Al Nassr forward score a 15-minute hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over Al Kholood, taking his career goal tally to 985 and leaving him just 15 short of 1,000.
The undefeated heavyweight boxing champion was among the spectators at Al Awwal Park on Thursday night as Ronaldo turned a closely contested match into an Al Nassr victory. With the score level at 2-2, the Portuguese forward struck three times between the 66th and 81st minutes.
Usyk, a multiple-time world boxing champion, was impressed by what he witnessed and delivered his verdict to the Saudi Pro League: “Cristiano’s an alien.”
Ronaldo’s treble was his latest contribution to an extraordinary career and another step towards the 1,000-goal landmark. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner celebrated the result on social media, writing: “Great win, great team performance. Happy to help with a hat-trick!”
Al Nassr had to recover from an early setback after Julien Domingues put Al Kholood ahead in the 16th minute. Ângelo equalised eight minutes later before Sadio Mané gave the hosts the lead in the 38th minute, with João Félix setting up both goals.
Al Kholood restored parity through Loic Essomba in first-half stoppage time, leaving the teams level at the break.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, converting Félix’s cut-back. Six minutes later, the same pair combined again, with the forward rising to head home Félix’s cross from the right.
The Portuguese completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute after Mané picked him out inside the penalty area. Domingues converted a late penalty for his second goal of the night, but Al Nassr had already secured the points.
Félix finished with four assists, becoming only the second player to achieve that feat in the Saudi Pro League, according to the league’s report.
The victory took Al Nassr to 28 points from 11 matches, one behind league leaders Al Qadsiah, who beat Al Riyadh 6-0 on the same night.
