Harry who?! Watkins makes England case as Kane watches on

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Why Man Utd & Liverpool both want Argentine teen Soler

Top 25 African players of the 21st century - ranked

Vini's nightmare goes on as Brazil drop more WCQ points

Mendes responds to Ronaldo criticism of Portugal players

Raphinha surprises wonderkid Yamal with £10k gold iPhone

Real Madrid midfielder announces shock retirement in emotional letter

'Please leave him alone!' - Deschamps sends out Mbappe plea

Rodri admits he wouldn't have even chosen Vinicius Jr. as Ballon d'Or runner-up

‘Can't think long term’ – Ronaldo admits he may not reach 1,000 goals

Endrick set to be offered 'escape route' out of Real Madrid

Twellman reportedly investigated for physical altercation

Manchester City

Manchester United

Liverpool

Arsenal

Chelsea

Other

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><ul><li>Experienced frontman enjoys memorable outing</li><li>Lands himself a Premier League match ball</li><li>New Zealander likened to greats of the game</li></ul>

Chris Wood compared to Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe & ‘prime Ronaldo’ as football fans salute incredible hat-trick for Nottingham Forest against Newcastle

Premier League

Nottingham Forest

Newcastle

West Ham

<p>The experienced frontman has had to be patient in pursuit of regular football since swapping St. James’ Park for the City Ground in the winter transfer window of 2023. He certainly found his shooting boots when returning to Tyneside on Boxing Day, with late Christmas gifts handed out by the home side.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Wood rolled Forest level on the stroke of half-time, following Alexander Isak’s opener from the penalty spot, before displaying incredible compose to dink home Forest’s second with his left foot – leading to followers on social media to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/cheltenham-festival-racehorses-named-after-footballers/blta024c3d7de6868c8" target="_blank">likening him to greats of the global game</a>.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nottingham Forest's counter-attacking = 🔥🔥🔥<br><br>A beautiful dinked finish from Chris Wood for his second goal of the afternoon!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLonPrime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PLonPrime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEWNFO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEWNFO</a> <a href="https://t.co/WhPps5p1xR">pic.twitter.com/WhPps5p1xR</a></p>— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) <a href="https://twitter.com/primevideosport/status/1739643772068143292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center><p></p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A SENSATIONAL finish from Chris Wood puts Nottingham Forest into the lead! 👏<br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/USANetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USANetwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hd1FYY2Mcu">pic.twitter.com/Hd1FYY2Mcu</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1739645014131532269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Wood secured himself the match ball when Forest moved 3-1 in front, with the offside trap beaten before rounding the goalkeeper and rolling into an empty net. More plaudits rained down on the New Zealand international, who is considered to be displaying Ronaldo-esque form – at least for one afternoon in late December.</p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Wood when he’s fuelled by pigs in blankets: <a href="https://t.co/R302B2JDVa">pic.twitter.com/R302B2JDVa</a></p>— T G J (@thatguysjokes) <a href="https://twitter.com/thatguysjokes/status/1739651036569088114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center><p></p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Wood has turned into Kylian Mbappe</p>— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) <a href="https://twitter.com/oilysailor/status/1739643237608952305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center><p></p><center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This defending is a disgrace.<br><br>Making Chris Wood looking like prime Ronaldo</p>— Lewis Bowden (@LewisBowden_) <a href="https://twitter.com/LewisBowden_/status/1739645249385902209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nobody<br>Chris Wood: <a href="https://t.co/0Bd5JywDZr">pic.twitter.com/0Bd5JywDZr</a></p>— 🚭 (@mariEscobarPME) <a href="https://twitter.com/mariEscobarPME/status/1739643574940004479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

</center>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Forest will need more heroics from Wood in the weeks and months to come, as they battle to pull away from relegation danger in the Premier League. There remains every chance that they will dip back into the market for another striker in January.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Chris Wood compared to Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe & ‘prime Ronaldo’ as football fans salute incredible hat-trick for Nottingham Forest against Newcastle | Goal.com

Chris Wood came back to haunt former club Newcastle with Nottingham Forest, earning him comparisons to Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe &amp; ‘prime Ronaldo’.

Chris Wood compared to Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe &amp; ‘prime Ronaldo’ as football fans salute incredible hat-trick for Nottingham Forest against Newcastle