Ronaldo scores a hat-trick in 15 minutes as Al Nassr beat Al Kholood 5-3

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has set himself a target of 1,000 professional career goals, has now scored a hat-trick in just 15 minutes. In a Saudi Pro League match at Al-Awwal Park in Riyadh, his side Al Nassr beat Al Kholood 5-3. The hat-trick takes Ronaldo's professional career tally to 985 goals; he is now 15 goals away from the milestone.

Al Nassr actually fell behind early in the match. Julien Dominguez put Al Kholood ahead in the 16th minute. Angelo Gabriel equalised for Nassr in the 24th minute, and Sadio Mane gave the Riyadh club the lead in the 38th. But in injury time just before the break, Antoine Asomba scored to bring Al Kholood level again.

Al Nassr dominated the second half, Ronaldo in particular. He completed his hat-trick with goals in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes, putting his side 5-2 ahead. Two of the goals came from teammates' passes near the penalty box and the other from a header off a cross, by the Portuguese star.

It was Ronaldo's seventh hat-trick in an Al Nassr shirt and the 67th of his career — 44 for Real Madrid, 10 for the Portugal national team, seven for Al Nassr, and three each for Manchester United and Juventus. His long-time rival Lionel Messi has scored 62 hat-tricks.

Late in the match, Dominguez scored again from a penalty to reduce the margin for Al Kholood to 5-3.

Ronaldo already held the record for the most goals in professional football. The hat-trick extends his lead over second-placed Messi (936 goals) to 49 goals.

After the match, Ronaldo wrote on social media: 'Great win, a fantastic team performance. Happy to contribute with a hat-trick!'

The win leaves Al Nassr second in the Saudi Pro League table with 28 points. Al Qadsiah, on the same points, top the table on goal difference.