Cristiano Ronaldo continued to prove that age is just a number after netting a hat-trick in Al-Nassr's 4-0 thrashing of Rio Ave in a pre-season friendly. 

Fresh from scoring 25 goals and finishing as the Saudi Pro League's top scorer in 2024-25, Ronaldo took centre stage once again at Estadio Do Algarve on Thursday. 

Al-Nassr opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Mohamed Simakan, who steered the ball beyond Cezary Miszta following Joao Felix's headed knockdown. 

Ronaldo doubled Al-Nassr's lead a minute before half-time with a fierce finish at the near post after combining brilliantly inside the box with compatriot Joao Felix. 

Nelson Abbey's handball inside the box offered Al-Nassr the chance to increase their lead in the 63rd minute, with Ronaldo handing the taking of the penalty to Sadio Mane. 

However, Mane's tame spot-kick was easily saved by Miszta, though Al-Nassr did grab their third thanks to Ronaldo's header 16 seconds after their missed effort from 12 yards.

And when Joao Felix tangled with Abbey inside the area five minutes later, Ronaldo did not give up the opportunity to complete his hat-trick and ruthlessly dispatched his penalty. 

Data Debrief: New season, same Ronaldo

Ronaldo's future at Al-Nassr remained unclear following the conclusion of last season, though the Saudi Pro League side will be happy to have tied down the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to a new contract after his performance here. 

The 40-year-old ended the game with team-high totals for shots (six) and shots on target (five), while also contributing an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.34 to Al-Nassr's 2.9 total during the encounter. 

It was also a promising showing from new signing Joao Felix, who impressed on his second start for his new team. Indeed, no player created more chances (three), played more passes into the final third (25) or competed in more duels (12) than the former Chelsea man in the contest.