Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo praised his teammates in the Saudi Al-Nassr team, after scoring 3 goals (hat-tricks), bringing him closer to his desired goal of reaching 1,000 goals in his busy career with the football club.
Only 15 goals separate the former Manchester United, Spanish, Real Madrid, and Italian Juventus star from his 1,000th goal.
Ronaldo (41 years old) scored his 3 goals within 15 minutes during the second half of the match that ended with Al-Nasr’s 5-3 victory over Al-Khuloud, in the Saudi Professional League, yesterday (Thursday).
This hat-trick is the 67th in Ronaldo's career, bringing the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to his tally of 985 goals in his football career, a number that many already consider a world record at the men's level.
Ronaldo wrote on his personal account on the Instagram social networking application: “A wonderful win and an outstanding team performance.” “I am happy to contribute by scoring 3 goals.”
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will be able to increase his scoring tally with the Portuguese national team, as he was absent from the team last September, but he will be available to participate again in the European Nations League matches scheduled for next month, after the end of a 30-day suspension period.
Ronaldo had previously indicated that this season might be his last as a player, if he succeeded in reaching the 1,000-goal barrier.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Thursday that the African Cup of Nations will be held every two years instead of every four years as planned, retracting its previous decision.
The African Cup of Nations has traditionally been held every two years, but CAF's sudden decision last December to transform it into a tournament held every four years was not widely welcomed.
CAF said in a statement: “The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football unanimously decided today to resume holding the African Cup of Nations every two years.”
Under the previous plan, the Africa Cup of Nations was to be held every four years, with the proposed African Nations League tournament becoming the biennial continental competition.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe said, during a strategic conference of the Continental Confederation in Cape Verde earlier this month, that the Confederation is considering returning to holding the African Cup of Nations every two years.
CAF said the Nations League would need years to generate enough revenue to support African football.
Motsepe said in a statement: “The decision of the CAF Executive Committee to reorganize the African Cup of Nations every two years aims to promote, protect and support the interests of African football and the 54 national federations that are members of CAF, as well as the interests of African players who play for clubs outside the continent.”
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will co-host the next edition in 2027, with the next tournaments being held in 2028, 2031 and 2033.
The Africa Cup of Nations will not be held in 2030, with CAF adhering to its tradition of not holding the tournament in a year in which the World Cup is held.
Atalanta continued its modest results, after being content with a 2-2 draw with its host Fiorentina, Thursday, at the end of the ninth stage of the Italian Football League, failing to achieve victory for the fourth consecutive match in various competitions.
Belgian Charles de Keteelaar opened the scoring for Atalanta in the 41st minute, giving his team the advantage at the end of the first half.
But Fiorentina rose up in the second half, and succeeded in overturning their deficit to a two-goal lead, after Swede Aliou Njie equalized in the 53rd minute, before Portuguese Joao Mario added the second goal for the hosts in the 61st minute.
Atalanta refused to give up, and was able to return to the match through Polish Nikola Zalewski, who scored the equalizer in the 74th minute, saving his team from a new loss.
With this draw, Atalanta continued its series of negative results, as it was unable to achieve victory in its last three matches in the Italian League, which witnessed a loss and two draws.
The series of matches without a win also extended to four in various competitions, after losing to the Dutch Ajax 0-2 in the European Conference League, and drawing with Frosinone 4-4.
Atalanta raised its score to 11 points in twelfth place, while Fiorentina's score became five points in eighteenth place, within the relegation zone.
