Cristiano Ronaldo has edged closer to the 1,000-goal mark after scoring a hat-trick in Al Nassr's 5-3 win over Al Kholood.

The 41-year-old Portugal star scored all three within 15 second-half minutes, finding the back of the net in the 66th, 72nd and 81st minutes to seal all three points at Alawwal Park on Thursday.

Ronaldo's treble has taken him to 985 career goals as he edges nail-bitingly close to the ultimate milestone that he has been chasing for many years, since breaking the record for top goalscorer in football history in 2021.

Addressing the target with his former team-mate Rio Ferdinand in 2024, Ronaldo said: 'I want to reach 1,000 goals. If I don't have any injuries, this for me is the most important (thing), I want that. 

'For me, the best mark that I can have in football is to reach, first, 900 goals. After, my challenge is to be at 1,000 goals.'

Despite surpassing Josef Bican five years ago as the all-time top goalscorer for club and country, that number is contested due to a lack of data from some historical records.

Brazil legend Pele, for example, is recognised by Guinness World Records as having scored 1,279 career goals in 1,363 games, though many of those matches were exhibitions. FIFA lists Pele's total at 767 career goals.

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, has continued to remain hot on Ronaldo's heels, and is the next player directly behind him with 936.

Ronaldo won consecutive Saudi Pro League Golden Boots in 2023-24 and 2024-25. He finished third in last season's scoring race with 28 goals.

Of his 985 official goals, a whopping 450 came during his nine-year spell at Real, while he netted 145 for Manchester United, 146 for his country Portugal, 101 for Juventus, 138 for current club Al-Nassr and five at Sporting Lisbon.

Last week, Ronaldo became football's first multi-billionaire after the veteran forward raked in £225million this year, according to Forbes.

Ronaldo reportedly passed the $2billion mark in career earnings earlier this year, just six years after he was the first footballer to surpass $1billion.

Ronaldo's status comes as he again topped Forbes' football rich list, aided by a lucrative salary at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr which is estimated at £488,000-per-day.

Forbes has determined that Ronaldo has also earned £42million off the pitch over the course of the year, which has come via endorsements and his business ventures.

Ronaldo's off the pitch earnings alone would surpass the total earnings of all but four of his peers.

Confirmation of Ronaldo's continued position at the top of the rich list comes just days after he was fined a measly £215 by Portugal for walking out of their national team during the recent international window.

Ronaldo is joined in the top two by his longtime rival Messi, with the pair occupying the highest two positions for the 12th time in the last 13 years.

Inter Miami star Messi is estimated to have earned £109million over the past year and is expected to soon join Ronaldo in passing the $2billion career earnings milestone.