Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese forward, added another milestone to his record with his 62nd hat-trick, a feat that places him at the pinnacle among active footballers for goals in a single match sequence. The Al-Nasr striker found the net three times, hammering the ball past the Damak goal in the Saudi Pro League’s 18th round, showcasing his enduring potency in front of goal.
Ronaldo’s achievement extends his lead in hat-trick totals, with 52 completed during club play and 10 for Portugal’s national team. In second place on the all-time list are Lionel Messi, currently tied at 56 hat-tricks, a marker that underscores the ongoing competition between two of football’s all-time greats.
At 37 years old, Ronaldo has been without a club since November 2022, following the termination of his contract with Manchester United after a controversial interview in which he criticized staff, management, and the club’s policies. That episode marked a turning point in his career, but he soon found a new home in Saudi Arabia, signing with Al-Nasr on January 2 under a contract reported to be worth €200 million annually. Additional bonuses were noted for Ronaldo and his family, reflecting the significant investment in the veteran forward by the Saudi club and league.
In other sports news, former world champion in pair skating Alexei Tikhonov spoke during Ilya Averbukh’s ice show, where participants from the “Ice Age” program performed. He commented on the challenges faced by Olympic champion Roman Kostomarov, who, after many years, returned to ice dancing in 2006, marking a notable moment in the sport’s evolution and the resilience of athletes who transition from one discipline to another.