Video: Hollywood-style scenario: Ronaldo hat-trick leads Al-Nassr to dramatic win over Al-Khaleej

The match caught fire from the opening minutes. Ronaldo thought he had broken the deadlock in the tenth minute, only for the referee to rule it out for offside. Julian Dominguez then caught Al-Nassr cold, firing Al-Khaleej ahead in the 16th minute, before Brazilian Angelo Gabriel hit back in the 24th to level it for Al-Alami.

Al-Nassr kept the pressure on, and Senegal's Sadio Mane put them back in front in the 38th minute. Al-Khaleej refused to buckle. Loic Isomba dragged his side level in stoppage time to make it 2-2 at the break, with Ronaldo furious after a second goal of his was chalked off for offside.

Ronaldo settled the contest after the break, his predatory instinct kicking in as he finished off a superb pass from compatriot Joao Felix on 66 minutes. Six minutes later, he nodded home a header for his second.

The third arrived on 81 minutes. Latching onto a perfectly weighted ball from Sadio Mane, the Portuguese completed his hat-trick to seal a thrilling win for Al-Nassr.

His treble was the perfect answer to a frustrating first half, when the referee chalked off two of his goals for offside. Ronaldo came back out and turned his chances into goals that stuck, as Al-Nassr's supporters revelled in the brilliance of their talisman.

Victory lifted Al-Nassr to 28 points, level with Al-Qadsiah at the summit for now. Al-Hilal sit a point back on 27, locked in a fierce scrap for top spot in the Saudi Pro League.

The three points hand Al-Nassr a crucial lift in their title charge. They broke Al-Khaleej's resistance to win an open contest that produced eight goals, with Ronaldo stealing the show. His hat-trick lit up a night that opened with goals chalked off and finished in a famous win for Al-Alami.