By Victor Kanayo
Both Nigeria’s Super Eagles hitman Victor Osimhen and Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo struck new career and league records in Italy and Saudi Arabia.
While Osimhen scored in eight straight games in Italian Serie A side Napoli in their 2-0 victory over Empoli, Ronaldo recorded the 62nd hat-trick of his illustrious career as Al Nassr thrashed Damak 3-0 away in the Saudi Pro League.
Osimhen becomes the second youngest player (24 years, 58 days) in the three points for a win era to find the net in eight Serie A games in a row, behind only Roberto Muzzi (23 years, 165 for Cagliari in 1995).
The Nigerian has now scored 19 league goals this campaign, six ahead of his nearest challenger Lautaro Martinez who has 13 goals this season.
For Ronaldo, it was his second hat-trick in five matches for title-chasing Al-Nassr that top the league standings.
The 38-year-old has enjoyed a successful start to life in Saudi Arabia since joining Al-Nassr on a contract worth £175-million-a-year.
Ronaldo opened the scoring with a penalty into the top left hand corner, before doubling Al Nassr’s advantage with a composed finish from the edge of the area.
His first-half hat-trick was completed with a close range finish, following a cutback from Abdulrahman Ghareeb.
Ronaldo also secured his second match ball in three games, having also scored four against Al-Wehda earlier this month.
He has now scored eight goals in just six games in the Saudi Pro League.
