Anderson Talisca has spoken of his pride at contributing to Al Nassr’s transformation into what he considers “one of the largest clubs in the world” after firing a hat-trick to almost seal their place in the Asian Champions League knockout stages.
The Brazilian, top scorer for the team last season, proved the match-winner in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence on Tuesday night, when he struck three times to give Nassr a 3-2 win at Al Duhail in Qatar. Ronaldo, himself in superb form this season, was rested for the tie.
The victory maintained Nassr’s 100 per cent record in this season’s Champions League, and means they require only one point from their remaining two matches to progress to the last 16 with two rounds to spare.
Luis Castro’s men, currently second in the Saudi Pro League, sit top of Group E with 12 points from four games. They take on Iran’s Persepolis at home on November 27.
Speaking after being named man of the match on Tuesday, Talisca played down his contribution, saying: “If I score, I give the goal to all my teammates because I know, if it weren’t for the group’s efforts, I wouldn’t be able to score at all.
“I don’t keep track of hat-tricks or how many goals I get because attaining certain numbers is the result of the combined efforts of everyone on the team.”
Nevertheless, Talisca’s treble lifted him to eight goals in four Champions League matches this campaign – he scored twice as Nassr came through a play-off against Dubai’s Shabab Al Ahli in August to reach the group stage – as the Riyadh club eye success on multiple fronts.
Just like Saudi Arabian football in general, Nassr have been buoyed by significant investment, and thus high-profile player recruitment, in the past year.
Ronaldo joined last December as Nassr finished runner-up in the Saudi top-flight, and has scored 21 goals in 22 matches this season. This summer, the Portuguese star was joined at the club by the likes of Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, Aymeric Laporte and Alex Telles.
Talisca, who signed for Nassr in 2021, referenced on Tuesday the club’s progress.
“I have a wonderful relationship with both Al Nassr and its fans,” he said. "They are well aware of the fact. I was a club member during a period of transformation in Al Nassr.
“I am really proud of the fact I was part of the club’s growth to the point where it is now considered one of the largest in the world.”
On Ronaldo’s impact, Talisca added: “Having Ronaldo on our team was a massive boost for the mentality of our players and to football in Saudi Arabia, and Al Nassr in particular.”
More on animal trafficking
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
