Joao Felix made a sensational debut within the 2025-26 Saudi Professional League season by scoring a hat-trick in simply his third recreation with Al Nassr, immediately elevating pleasure for what’s to return. With such a right away impression, comparisons shortly emerged on how lengthy it took Cristiano Ronaldo to make the identical mark on the membership.
After struggling to seek out constant minutes in Europe, Al Nassr secured Joao Felix from Chelsea for a reported €30 million, with an extra €20 million in potential add-ons. Cristiano Ronaldo performed a key function in persuading the 25-year-old to affix the Saudi facet, personally convincing him to be a part of the bold mission.
Felix embraced the problem, keen for normal enjoying time forward of the 2026 World Cup with Portugal. The attacking midfielder shortly built-in into Jorge Jesus’ squad, and inside three appearances, he already celebrated his first hat-trick for Al Nassr.
How lengthy did it take Ronaldo to attain his first Al Nassr hat-trick?
Joao Felix featured within the Saudi Tremendous Cup semifinal, the place he scored a purpose, and within the last, earlier than making historical past within the Saudi Professional League. On Matchday 1 towards Al Taawoun, he scored within the seventh minute with a left-foot strike, adopted by a thunderous purpose within the 67th minute, and capped the night time with a 3rd within the 87th minute, finishing a outstanding hat-trick in simply his third recreation for the membership.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr reacts in the course of the Saudi Professional League match between Al Nassr and Al-Ittifaq Membership at Mrsool Park Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo, in contrast, additionally made a right away impression at Al Nassr, but it surely took him barely longer to achieve the identical milestone. His first recreation for the Saudi facet got here within the Professional League on January 22, 2023, towards Al Ettifaq in a 1-0 win, the place he didn’t rating.
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Ronaldo’s subsequent alternative got here within the Saudi Tremendous Cup semifinal on January 26, 2023, a 3-1 loss to Al Ittihad, the place he once more failed to attain. His first purpose arrived in his third look, throughout a 2-2 draw towards Al Fateh within the SPL.
Every little thing modified in his fourth recreation: on February 9, 2023, Al Nassr defeated Al Wehda 4-0, with Ronaldo scoring all 4 targets. Not solely did he obtain the hat-trick milestone, however he went additional, securing a “poker” of targets to assert all three factors.
Since arriving in December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six hat-tricks for Al Nassr, all within the Saudi Professional League. Joao Felix, together with his speedy begin, has the potential to turn into simply as influential as Ronaldo if he maintains this outstanding kind.
