Cristiano Ronaldo closes in on Saudi record after scoring perfect hat-trick for Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a perfect hat-trick on Saturday evening to continue his prolific season as Al Nassr thrashed Al Wehda 6-0 in the Saudi Pro League.

Already clear in the SPL's top scorer standings, Ronaldo took his tally to 32 goals in 31 games – and 41 in 40 matches in all competitions – with his 66th career hat-trick.

Ronaldo opened the scoring at Al Awwal Stadium in the fifth minute when Wehda goalkeeper Munir Mohamedi's poor clearance found the Nassr captain on the edge of the area. The Portuguese forward brought the ball into the box and curled a right-footed effort into the bottom corner.

Ronaldo doubled Nassr's lead seven minutes later when he rose to head home Marcelo Brozovic's pinpoint cross.

Otavio made it 3-0 in the 18th minute. After timing his run through the Wehda defence and getting on the end of Sadio Mane's lofted through pass, the Portuguese midfielder lifted the ball over the onrushing Mohamedi.

Otavio and Mane then switched roles as provider turned scorer moments before half-time. Mane exchanged a quick one-two with Otavio before holding off two Wehda defenders and taking an early shot from the edge of the area that wrong-footed Mohamedi.

Shortly after the break, Ronaldo had his perfect hat-trick. Mane was once again the creator as the former Liverpool forward slid a pass through for Ronaldo, who timed his run to perfection and slotted home a left-footed shot.

Mohamed Al-Fatil then completed the rout in the 88th minute after Meshari Al-Nemer's initial shot was blocked into his path by Wehda goalkeeper Mohamedi.

A seventh league victory in a row further cements Nassr's place as likely runners-up in the SPL. The Riyadh side are 19 points clear of Al Ahli in third, although they will need a