CRISTIANO RONALDO’S second sensational hat-trick in four days left fans claiming he’s still a Ballon d’Or contender aged 39.
Ron bagged two free-kicks – one labelled “vintage” by Sun columnist Piers Morgan – before notching a solo special and being taken off at half-time!
The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend has now notched 42 goals in 41 games for Al-Nassr this season.
The Portugal striker tops the Saudi Pro League charts on 29 – well ahead of Al-Hilal’s ex-Fulham frontman Aleksandar Mitrovic.
And the 65th treble of his career suggests Ronaldo, whose fifth and last Ballon d’Or was in 2017, is as hungry as ever.
Having netted a hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-1 defeat of Al Tai, Ron was even quicker and slicker off the mark in Tuesday’s 8-0 romp against Abha.
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The ex-Juventus dazzler drilled home a low free-kick opener on 11 minutes.
He then completed a deadball double by fading the ball into the top corner.
That earned Ronaldo a new tribute from Morgan, plus verdicts from fans like “Crazy goal record” and “Once again CR7 is proving doubters wrong!”
Broadcaster Morgan posted on X: “The GOAT @Cristiano doing yet more GOAT things tonight.. two brilliant free kick goals, this one vintage Ronaldo.”
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But plenty of viewers were more impressed by his hat-trick clincher – the most nonchalant of chips after taking the ball in his stride 25 yards out.
One fan responded: “We’ll push him for Ballon d’Or 2024.”
But amid familiar doubts online about the standard of football in Saudi Arabia, one observer commented: “Now imagine Messi in this league – 7 goals in a match steady.”
And despite Ronaldo’s extraordinary scoring rate, Al-Nassr still sit 12 points behind unbeaten leaders Al-Hilal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
