Saudi Pro League Top Scorers: Updated Golden Boot Ranking As Cristiano Ronaldo Nets 64th Hat Trick

• Cristiano Ronaldo leads the race for the 2023–24 Saudi Pro League Golden Boot
• The Al-Nassr captain is the only player on this list with a 1.0 goal-to-game ratio
• However, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Abderrazak Hamdallah are hot on his heels

Cristiano Ronaldo notched his 64th career hat-trick after his treble spurred Al-Nassr to a comprehensive win against lowly-placed Al-Tai in the Saudi Pro League.

The veteran put aside his tough spell during the international break, scoring on three occasions after recess to help the Knights of Najd pick up a 5-1 win at home.

While Ronaldo extended his tally in the Saudi top flight, his nearest competitor, Aleksandar Mitrovic, bagged a brace as Al-Hilal downed Al-Shabab in a seven-goal thriller.

With only nine matches left in the season, Sports Brief examines the competition for the SPL top scorer's accolade, with the Portuguese veteran holding the advantage.

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Saudi Pro League top scorers

Ronaldo leads the race with 26 goals from 23 appearances, accompanied by nine assists, per Transfermarkt, building on similar accolades in his time with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

Since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, he has maintained a consistent scoring record, making him the frontrunner for the Golden Boot award, a feat he achieved in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.

Close behind is former Fulham and Newcastle United striker, Mitrovic, who has netted 22 goals to contribute 28.94 per cent of the total goals scored by Al-Hilal this term (76).

Last season's top scorer, Abderrazak Hamdallah of Al-Ittihad, is in third place with 18 goals and remains in contention to retain his crown.

Unfortunately, Al-Nassr's Anderson Talisca's campaign has been cut short due to a season-ending injury, as cited by Sportstar, depriving him of the chance to add to his tally of 16 goals.

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The top 10 scorers in the Saudi Pro League:

Ronaldo reacts after hat-trick milestone

Sports Brief also reported that Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating another milestone in his esteemed career after Al-Nassr's impressive win against Al Tai at Al-Awwal Park.

The Portuguese star displayed his scoring prowess with a remarkable second-half hat-trick, contributing to his team's victory alongside goals from his teammate Otavio and Saudi Arabian player Abdulrahman Ghareeb.

Ronaldo, 39, shared his joy on social media, expressing his excitement with fans globally.

Why Al-Hilal are Ronaldo's biggest problem

Still on the Saudi Pro League, the clearly evident gap in quality between Al-Hilal and other clubs in Saudi Arabia has been undeniable.

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While Al-Nassr has emerged as the closest competitor to Jorge Jesus' side this season, the statistics depict them as a distant second.

Sports Brief now delves into some of the reasons why it is a challenge for the Knights of Najd and Cristiano Ronaldo to bypass Al-Hilal.