Cristiano Ronaldo snapped up yet another hat-trick in a career filled with them when he scored 3 goals against Rio Ave in a pre-season friendly on Thursday. The Al Nassr forward put the ball in the opposition net in the 44th, 63rd and 68th minute to help his team cruise to a 4-0 win.
The first goal was a typical poacher’s finish when Ronaldo played a one-two with new signing Joao Felix and smashed the ball into the top of the opposition net. for the second goal, he turned back the clock with a vintage leap over the defenders as he headed the ball, crossed by Wesley, past the keeper. The 3rd one was a regulation spot kick which he took when Felix was fouled in the box.
In June, Ronaldo opted to renew his contract with Al Nassr till 2027, choosing to stay at the Saudi Arabian club for the foreseeable future. “A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together,” Ronaldo had posted on X.
⚽ | Second goal for AlNassr!
Scored by Cristiano Ronaldo 🐐
44’ | ⏱️
pic.twitter.com/0Myev3qBRI— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 7, 2025
In May, the internet was abuzz with rumours about Ronaldo leaving Saudi Arabia after FIFA president Gianni Infantino had said that there were discussions on the Portual forward playing the Club World Cup. “There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup…who knows, who knows,” he had said.
Ronaldo had hinted about his Al-Nassr exit after the team’s defeat in the Saudi Premier League (SPL) 2024-25 season-ending match to Al-Fateh.
⚽ | Third goal for AlNassr!
Scored by Cristiano Ronaldo 🐐
63’ | ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/BZIk3MW4h3— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) August 7, 2025
Meanwhile, in July, Felix took his total transfer cost to around $260 million Tuesday when completing the move to Al Nassr.
The Portugal forward teamed up with compatriot Ronaldo, joining from Chelsea for a reported initial fee of 30 million euros ($34.6 million) and signing a two-year contract.
Meanwhile , in other Saudi Premier League news, Holders Al Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify after withdrawing from this season’s four-team competition, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation’s (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee had said on August 6.
The decision came after Al Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played from August 19-23 in Hong Kong, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4.
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