Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated his recognition as the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) winner in spectacular fashion, scoring a 15-minute hat-trick to inspire Al-Nassr to a 5-3 victory over Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday.
The Portuguese superstar took his career goals tally to 985, moving within 15 goals of the historic 1,000-goal milestone following another remarkable performance at the Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh.
Ronaldo struck in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes to complete his treble, turning a closely contested encounter into a comfortable victory for the hosts.
The 41-year-old’s performance came just a day after he was announced as the winner of the BOAT (Ballon d’Or of All Time) fan vote organised by France Football, further adding to an eventful week for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ronaldo Beats Messi to BOAT Recognition
Ronaldo secured the top position in the public vote with his outstanding 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign at Manchester United, finishing ahead of longtime rival Lionel Messi.
Messi’s 2012 Ballon d’Or-winning season finished second, while Ronaldo’s 2017 campaign occupied third position.
The initiative invited football supporters to select the greatest Ballon d’Or-winning season from a shortlist of legendary players who had won the prestigious award at least twice.
The Portuguese forward’s 2007/08 campaign stood out following his remarkable contribution to Manchester United’s Premier League and UEFA Champions League triumphs.
He scored 42 goals across all competitions, including 31 in the Premier League and eight in the Champions League, before receiving his first Ballon d’Or in December 2008.
The recognition was an honorary fan-vote distinction and did not come with a separate physical trophy.
Hat-Trick Takes Ronaldo Closer to 1,000 Goals
Ronaldo transferred his celebratory mood to the pitch against Al-Kholood, producing a decisive second-half display after both sides went into the interval level.
The visitors initially took the lead through Julien Domingues before Al-Nassr responded through Ângelo Gabriel and Sadio Mané.
Antoine Essomba restored parity for Al-Kholood to make it 2-2 before the break.
However, Ronaldo took control after the restart, scoring three times in a 15-minute spell to give Al-Nassr a commanding advantage.
His first goal came in the 66th minute, followed by another six minutes later. He completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute to seal the victory.
Domingues subsequently scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time, but Al-Nassr held on for a 5-3 win.
The treble raised Ronaldo’s reported career tally to 985 official goals, leaving him just 15 strikes away from becoming the first player to reach 1,000 goals in official senior matches.
Five Ballon d’Or Titles and a Historic Career
Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 while playing for Manchester United before collecting four more individual titles in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017 during his career at Real Madrid.
His latest BOAT recognition further underlines the enduring significance of his achievements in a career that has spanned Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr.
Meanwhile, England captain Harry Kane was crowned the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or winner at the ceremony in London on October 26, becoming the first Englishman to claim the honour since Michael Owen in 2001.
For Ronaldo, however, the celebrations continued on the pitch, where his latest hat-trick brought the 1,000-goal target another step closer.
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