Cristiano Ronaldo is just 15 goals away from achieving his target of scoring 1,000 goals throughout his entire professional football career.

Cristiano Ronaldo is moving ever closer to his ambition of hitting 1000 professional career goals. His hat-trick against Al Kholood brings the 41-year-old's total goal tally to 985, leaving him just 15 strikes away from the landmark target.

Ronaldo netted three times as Al Nassr beat Al Kholood 5-3 in a Saudi Pro League fixture hosted in Riyadh, in the early hours of Friday 30 October WIB.

Ronaldo's hat-trick underlined his clinical finishing instinct, even now he has entered his 40s.

Throughout this match Ronaldo also demonstrated the full breadth of his goalscoring ability, finding the net with his left foot, an aerial header, and his right foot.

These three distinct finishing styles highlight How Ronaldo can capitalise on any scenario that unfolds inside the opposition penalty area.

Ronaldo opened his account for the night in the 66th minute, with the match deadlocked at 2-2. Joao Felix escaped Al Kholood's backline before playing a low driven cross into the six yard box.

Ronaldo met the delivery with a clean left-footed finish into the unguarded goal.

Six minutes later Ronaldo struck again. This time he showcased his trademark leap and aerial physicality, heading home accurately after connecting with another cross from Joao Felix.

The Portugal international completed his hat-trick in the 81st minute. Ronaldo made a bursting run from midfield to support an attacking advance led by Sadio Mane.

After Mane failed to convert his own initial chance but kept possession, he slipped a through pass directly into Ronaldo's path. The Al Nassr captain dispatched the opportunity with calm composure.

Ronaldo Closes In On 1000 Goal Milestone

With this three goal haul, Ronaldo now sits on 985 official career goals. The gap to the historic 1000 mark has narrowed once more, with only 15 goals now separating him from the target.

This landmark stands as one of the final major ambitions for the closing chapter of Ronaldo's career, ahead of his 42nd birthday in February 2027.

No longer in his physical prime, every single match now represents a precious chance for Ronaldo to edge closer to the 1000 goal target before he concludes his long professional football career.

Attention is also turning to Ronaldo's long term future. His contract with Al Nassr is due to expire at the end of the 2026/2027 season, leading to widespread speculation over whether he will extend his playing career or announce retirement.

Reaching the 1000 goal mark is expected to be one of the defining factors in this decision.

Should he hit the target, Ronaldo will likely consider that he has fulfilled one of the greatest remaining ambitions of his career.

If the milestone remains unmet however, he will almost certainly leave the door open to continue playing.

Ronaldo Hat-Trick Seals 5-3 Al Nassr Victory

The win over Al Kholood was not purely Ronaldo's show. Al Nassr also displayed their dangerous attacking depth with contributions across the squad.

Before Ronaldo registered on the scoresheet, Angelo Gabriel and Sadio Mane had already fired Al Nassr into an early lead. Al Kholood fought back hard however, with goals from Julien Domingues and Loic Essomba bringing the match level at 2-2.

Ronaldo's quickfire double inside six minutes put Al Nassr 4-2 ahead, before his 81st minute third goal put the home side comfortably out of reach.

Al Kholood pulled one back via a Julien Domingues penalty during stoppage time, but this strike did not alter the final result, as Al Nassr closed out the match 5-3.