Cristiano Ronaldo scored an incredible first-half hat-trick for Al Nassr – including two free-kicks – on Tuesday night.
The Al Nassr star was in supreme form as they took on Abha in the Saudi Pro League with the Jeddah-based side racing into a 5-0 lead at half-time.
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Ronaldo was in fine form on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty
Three of the goals came from Ronaldo alone, who netted two free-kicks along the way – with his third an incredible chip.
To add to his jaw-dropping opening 45 minutes, he also set up the other two goals for Sadio Mane and Abdulmajeed Al-Sulaiheem.
Ronaldo put Al Nassr ahead after 11 minutes when his low free-kick bamboozled everyone to creep in and he had another on 21 minutes with another free-kick that flew into the corner.
Having then set up Al-Sulaiheem and former Liverpool star Mane, the ex-Manchester United forward made it five for Al Nassr on the night with a beautiful chip.
That was his 29th goal of the season for Al Nassr and his second consecutive hat-trick for the club, as well.
On Saturday, Ronaldo bagged three goals against Al Tai as Al Nassr continue to chase down the Saudi Pro League title.
They sit 12 points behind league leaders Al Hilal, who boast some superstars of their own in Ruben Neves, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly.
For Ronaldo, it marks an incredible return to action after a disappointing international break where he had first been dropped then failed to score in a defeat to Slovenia.
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Ronaldo scored two free-kicks in 21 minutes before a fine chip completed his hat-trickCredit: Getty
According to European football expert Andy Brassell, Ronaldo has to make do with the fact that he might be utilised more as a squad player at international level.
He told talkSPORT: “I think Cristiano Ronaldo realises now that sometimes he’ll start, and sometimes he’ll be a squad player and that is just what he’s going to have to live with.
“It’s interesting because to even think about criticising Ronaldo two or three years ago would have been treated as complete heresy in Portugal.
“Whereas now, I think people understand that Bernardo Silva is their best player.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ronaldo was taken off at half-time with the game all but over and with big clashes on the horizon including against Al Hilal in the Super Cup.
But that did not stop Al Nassr, who went on to add three more goals in a resounding 8-0 victory by full time.
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