Just until yesterday, Cristiano Ronaldo was facing a lot of backlash for having netted just one goal in three games in all competitions for his new side Al Nassr. Many had even passed a verdict that the player on the richest contract the world of sports has ever seen is a flop for the club who’s paying him that. However, a trip Mecca has changed it all for Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a stunning four goals against Al Wehda in his side’s thumping win in the Saudi Pro League clash.
Ronaldo had failed to find the scoresheet in his first two games for the Saudi side, with his maiden goal coming for the club in a stoppage time penalty to rescue a point against Al Fateh last week. With pressure mounting, the Portuguese rose to the occasion, putting the ball into the back of the net a stunning four times against Al Wehda to make it 5 goals in 4 games for Al Nassr, and also taking his career league goal tally past the 500 mark.
Cristiano Ronaldo hits another landmark in Saudi with four goals
It was a night of Cristiano Ronaldo masterclass for his new club while at the same time racking up individual records. Not only his four goals helped Al Nassr get back to winning ways, the 38-year-old brought up his 500th career league goal by netting the opener. And by the time he completed his hat-trick, it was Ronaldo’s stunning 61st of his career. He had last recorded four goals in a single game in March 2018, for Real Madrid in their La Liga clash against Girona.
Ronaldo scored his 500th goal in the 21st minute with a left-footed strike after receiving a brilliant pass into the penalty box from Abdulrahman Ghareeb. Just before the break, he made it 2-0 with his right foot, and eight minutes into the second half, he scored his 61st hat-trick from the penalty spot. The former Manchester United forward then added his fourth just after the hour mark after he was first to a rebound off his own shot. Watch his all four strikes here.
All four of Ronaldo's goals for Al Nassr today ? pic.twitter.com/xqSgJ8XTSj
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 9, 2023
Breaking down his 500 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals for Sporting Lisbon at the start of his career, 103 Premier League goals for Manchester United across two spells, 311 goals in the La Liga for Real Madrid, and 81 goals for Juventus in the Serie A. He now has 5 goals in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nassr. With the win over Al Wehda, Al Nassr moved to the summit in the league standings after 16 games, tied on 37 points with Al Shabab in second place.
After his contract with Manchester United was mutually terminated at the end of last December, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr. He signed a contract that runs through the summer of 2025 which will see him pocket the highest salary any athlete has ever received of €200m per-year. While he might have reached new heights with his four goal, the forward, however, claimed that the result and three points was what mattered most in a post-game interview. Ronaldo told SSC Channel:
“I’m really happy for the goals I scored today, but what made me happier is being able to help my team-mates to win this game.”
Ronaldo will look to poach more goals in his next game, when Al Nassr welcome Al Taawoun in the league. His four goals have helped Al Nassr to a superior goal difference over second-placed Al Shabab who share the same points as the Riyadh-based side. However, the most relieving sight for both the Al Nassr fans and manager Rudi Garcia would be that their record signing is feeling it at home in Saudi.