Cristiano Ronaldo TWICE shows he hasn't lost his elite mentality
Cristiano Ronaldo shows he hasn’t lost his elite mentality on TWO occasions for Al Nassr… with the Portuguese superstar celebrating his 500th career goal like it’s his first, before collapsing in anguish at the Saudi team’s failure to go 5-0 up
- Cristiano Ronaldo finished the game against Al-Wheds with 503 League goals
- The Portugal icon missed out on his first assist for his new club late in the game
- RECAP: Rampant Ronaldo nets FOUR as he scores his first hat-trick at Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo may have scored four goals for Al-Nassr on Thursday night, but it was two moments in the game that proved that he still has the mentality of an elite player.
Despite getting himself among the goals in typically ruthless fashion, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner showed his class in other ways as his side beat Al-Wheda – with Ronaldo scoring all four.
In doing so, he also scored his 500th League goal of his career, finishing the night on 503 overall.
But his celebration for his first of the night showed viewers that each goal still matters to the veteran striker, as he celebrated wildly, before turning to his team-mates and demanding focus from his side.
He also showed how fierce competitor he is later in the game after bemoaning a missed opportunity in the 89th minute with his side already 4-0 up and at no risk of letting the game slip through carelessness.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated scoring his 500th league goal like it was his first ever
Ronaldo scored four as Al-Nassr hammered Al-Wheda 4-0 on Thursday night in the Saudi Pro League
The Portuguese superstar was jubilant on reaching the landmark tally and remained demanding of his team-mates throughout
The 38-year-old is notorious for the high standards he sets for both himself and his team, and Thursday evening’s showing highlighted that that is not something he has allowed to fade from his game.
He went in to the game still yet to set the Saudi Pro-League alight after his landmark signing of a £175million-per-year deal with Al-Nassr.
But he left viewers in no doubt that he was taking the switch with the utmost seriousness, and had netted twice by half-time.
After his first of the night came on 20 minutes, which he marked with his trademark ‘Siu’ celebration, he then clenched his fists and held them aloft with his eyes closed in evident relief.
The 38-year-old proceeded to then remonstrate with his team-mates, seemingly in frustration, striving to get the most out of his team on the pitch.
And by 53 minutes Ronaldo had sealed his hat-trick – the 61st of his glittering and storied career in professional football.
And after having already managed a fourth, he was distraught that the visitors could not add a fifth in the 89th minute.
The forward could have grabbed a first assist for his new club, but Abdulrahman Ghareeb was unable to get on the end of his pass across the face of the goal.
He was visibly relieved as he celebrated scoring his first of the night with his new team-mates
The 38-year-old took his all-time tally for league goals to 503 in his long and glittering career
When his Saudi Arabian team-mate failed to get on the end of the ball, Ronaldo flung out his arms and sunk to his knees in shock and remained there with a pained look as an Al-Wheda player sympathised with him.
The game had already been killed off – arguably since half-time – but Ronaldo was not content with a 4-0 win, and clearly expected more.
He has now managed five in three games for Al-Nassr, who sit top of the Saudi Pro League on goal difference above Al-Shadab, with a game in hand.
Source: Read Full Article