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<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

Southampton

Newcastle

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

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