Old GOATs looking like youngsters - Ronaldo's bicycle and Messi's hat-trick of asissts

For him, age seems to mean nothing. Everyone knows it’s not a top-level league, but when he scores a goal like the one yesterday, or the one from a month ago, Cristiano Ronaldo (40) keeps astonishing again and again. And it truly doesn’t have much to do with the quality of the league. It’s about a moment of pure inspiration and a gift possessed only by the greatest goalscorers.

The Portuguese star was the author of a real little masterpiece tonight in Al Nassr’s 4–1 win over Al Khaleej. Deep into stoppage time, with many fans probably already heading for the exits, CR7 connected brilliantly with a cross from the flank and sent it into the net with a bicycle kick — the perfect icing on the cake for his team’s ninth win in as many league games for one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs.

It was Ronaldo’s 954th career goal, as he continues charging toward his next milestone — the 1,000 mark. This was also his seventh consecutive match in which he scored, further proving what kind of form he’s in. And right alongside the former best player in the world, the rejuvenated Joao Felix is also scoring.

A player nearly written off by almost everyone in Europe, he netted his 11th goal in the Saudi Pro League (in his 9th match), and has 15 goals in 17 games since arriving in the Middle East.

Felix also managed to record an assist today for Wesley, and Sadio Mane also scored.

Ronaldo’s biggest rival in the race for that famous title of the greatest ever, Lionel Messi, also shone during the night in the Inter Miami shirt. The Argentine football magician sprinkled his magic and led Inter Miami to the MLS Eastern Conference final for the first time in the club’s history. With three assists and one goal, he delivered a 4–0 (1–0) victory over Cincinnati.

Messi scored the first goal of the evening, giving his team an early lead. He then assisted the second goal, passing to Silvestre, who sent the ball from the left side into the bottom-right corner. Tadeo Allende extended Inter’s lead with goals in the 62nd and 74th minutes — both from Messi’s assists — securing the win for the Florida side.

Luis Suarez, who missed Miami’s previous first-round match against Nashville due to suspension, appeared in the second half, coming on as a substitute for Allende in the final minutes. Miami will now prepare to face the winner of the other Eastern Conference semifinal between New York City and the Philadelphia Union.