Al Nassr are riding a wave of confidence after a thrilling 5-3 victory over Al Kholood in Matchweek 12 of the Saudi Pro League, a result that lifted them to second place with 28 points from 11 games, level with leaders Al Qadsiah who have played one game more. Cristiano Ronaldo was the night's central figure, scoring a hat-trick to bring his league tally to eight goals and move within 15 of the landmark 1,000 career goals. Angelo Gabriel and Sadio Mane also scored, with the Senegalese forward celebrating his 100th appearance in the Saudi Pro League. The win gave the club real momentum, though manager Ange Postecoglou was visibly frustrated by questions focusing on defensive lapses rather than the attacking output, insisting fans should enjoy what the squad is producing. Off the pitch, the club's profile continues to grow. AC Milan owner Gerry Cardinale confirmed that RedBird Capital has held early-stage talks over a potential investment in Al Nassr, and he expressed a personal desire to speak with Ronaldo about his future plans. Meanwhile, Ronaldo returned to the Portugal squad after a brief suspension stemming from his departure from the national camp in September, with a Portuguese journalist clarifying that much of the ban had already been served before the official announcement. Al Nassr face Pakhtakor Tashkent in the AFC Champions League Elite on November 2 before returning to league action against Al Hazm on November 5.