Ronaldo Joins Alexis Sanchez In Exclusive Goalscoring Club
Cristiano Ronaldo at 34 has shown no signs of slowing down even as he bagged another hattrick in Juventus’ latest Serie A outing.
The Portugese put up exceptional displays helping his side to a 4-0 win over Cagliari, bagging a hattrick and an assist in the process.
In that win, the charismatic forward added another record to his long haul of goalscoring achievements. He’s become only the second player after Alexis Sanchez to net a hattrick in the Serie A, Premier League as well as Laliga.
The Chilean, Sanchez set this record when he scored a hattrick in Arsenal’s 5-2 win over Leicester City after previously netting same for Barcelona and Udinese.
In the same vein, Ronaldo, 34 hit trebles for Manchester United and Real Madrid on several occasions before his latest for Juventus in the Serie A.
After a goalless forty-five minutes, Ronaldo hit the ground running only four minutes after the interval before doubling the goal lead from the penalty spot.
He then turned provider for Gonzalo Higuain who made it 3-0. Ronaldo then added icing to the cake a minute later to seal a magnificent win for the Biaconeris.
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It was Ronaldo’s 36th hattrick of his career. No player has netted more in all of Europe’s elite leagues. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi comes the closest with 34 while Luis Suarez comes in third with 16.
The Portugal International has now netted 56 hat tricks for both club and country with his ninth hattrick for country coming in November against Lithuania. That ninth treble equalled the record for most hattricks on international duty, a record previously solely held by Sweden’s Sven Rydell.
The 34-year-old’s opening goal against Cagliari also helped him become the first and only player to have scored at least a goal in all of Europe’s top five league in each of the last 18 years.
Only other two players can boast of meeting this feat – Real Betis forward, Joaquin and 41one-year-old striker, Pizzarro.
