Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational hat-trick as Al Nassr beat Al Kholood 5-3 in a thrilling Saudi Pro League encounter on Thursday, October 30, delivering one of the most entertaining matches of the season for football fans across the region.
Al Nassr fell behind early but hit back through goals from Angelo in the 24th minute and Sadio Mane just before the break. The match turned decisively in the second half when Ronaldo struck three times in the space of just 15 minutes, finding the net in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes to put the result beyond doubt. Al Kholood's goals came from Julien Domingues, who scored in the 16th minute and converted a stoppage-time penalty, and Antoine Loic Essomba Bikoula, who scored just before half-time.
The win capped a landmark week for the Portuguese superstar, who was also named winner of the inaugural "Ballon d'Or Of All Time" (BOAT), a new fan-voted award distinct from the traditional annual Ballon d'Or decided by a panel of journalists. In the public vote, Ronaldo's 2008 season at Manchester United, when he scored 42 goals including 31 in the Premier League and won both domestic and European titles, was chosen as the greatest individual season among all past Ballon d'Or winners, edging out long-time rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo, who remains one of the most popular athletes among football fans across the Middle East and the UAE, continues to perform at an elite level despite his age, and many credit his presence in the Saudi Pro League with helping fuel the competition's growing global following in recent years.