Ronaldo’s late surge earns praise as Al Nassr star completes hat-trick

Cristiano Ronaldo’s appetite for goals was praised by Saudi media personality Khaled Al-Sheneif after the Al Nassr captain scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over Al Kholood in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday.

The result came in the 12th round of the competition, with Ronaldo scoring in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes to secure three points for Al Nassr.

His treble took his Saudi Pro League tally to eight goals. That leaves him level with Tijjani Reijnders in second place in the scoring charts, four goals behind leaders Ivan Toney of Al Ahli, who has scored 12 times.

Speaking on the television programme Dorina Ghair, Al-Sheneif highlighted Ronaldo’s continued determination to find the net.

“I have not seen any player with the same desire that Ronaldo has,” he said. “Without the slightest doubt, he is a hungry player.”

Al-Sheneif said that hunger should be viewed positively in football, pointing to the Portugal forward’s contribution to his third goal of the game.

“Being hungry is not a bad thing in football,” he added. “He always wants to score. He had already scored twice, but in the 81st minute he continued running from the halfway line during an attack that was almost over. He reached the penalty area and scored.”

The goal completed Ronaldo’s hat-trick and provided the clearest example of the effort Al-Sheneif believes separates him from other players.

“The passion, ambition and desire are what distinguish Ronaldo from the others,” he said. “He is 42 years old and reached the penalty area before Felix, who is 25.”

The comments focused on more than Ronaldo’s goalscoring record. Al-Sheneif’s praise centred on the forward’s willingness to keep running even after Al Nassr had already established a two-goal advantage and he had scored twice.

Ronaldo’s movement at the end of the attack allowed him to add a third goal and underline the competitive drive that has continued to shape his performances in the Saudi Pro League.

Al Nassr’s schedule also includes an AFC Champions League Elite fixture against Pakhtakor on 02 November 2026. They are then due to face Al Khaleej in the Saudi Pro League on 05 November 2026.