Cristiano Ronaldo remained a mute spectator during Manchester United's crushing defeat at the hands of Manchester City in a Premier League clash that saw Erling Haaland and Phil Foden score hat-tricks in a 6-3 victory.
Manchester United's iconic striker Cristiano Ronaldo remained a mute spectator on Sunday when his side suffered a demolition at the hands of Manchester City thanks to hat-tricks from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden in a 6-3 victory at Etihad Stadium.
The Portuguese talisman's chances of featuring in the Red Devils' starting XI were slim today as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial returned to training earlier this week. Ronaldo would have hoped for Erik ten Hag to bring him off the bench as City's young stars wreaked havoc on United's defence. However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner appeared grim and helpless from the dugout as he witnessed one of the stars of the night, Haaland, continue to break Premier League records.
The Norwegian, who has 14 Premier League and 3 Champions League goals for City since his move from Borussia Dortmund this summer, scored twice before half-time and then sealed a hat-trick in the second half. It was the third consecutive home game where the 22-year-old has scored with three strikes in a game for City - the first time anyone has ever done it.
Haaland also became the third City player to score a hat-trick versus Manchester United after Horace Barnes in October 1921 and Francis Lee in December 1970.
Manchester City is also just the third side in the history of England's top-flight to have two players score hat-tricks in a single game after Arsenal vs Southampton (2003) and Leicester vs Southampton (2019).
What's interesting is that Haaland has now matched Ronaldo's total number of Premier League hat-tricks. The Norway international has scored three hat-tricks from just eight games in his debut season, while the Portuguese legend scored as many hat-tricks from 232 games.
Several City fans and those who believe Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Lionel Messi is greater than Ronaldo took to Twitter to troll the Manchester United icon. Here's a look at some of the reactions on the micro-blogging site:
Say it louder. π https://t.co/pm6q0LqJnt
β Raquel π (@holaesraquel)Iβm so happy the world is witnessing this right now. Donβt ever compare Messi with Ronaldo, ever. Football is all about goals i agree but there are other aspects of the game. All Ronaldoβs record will be broken in no time but no one will ever kick the football like Messi, ever. https://t.co/HKBo6JKJYV
β oSeπ³π¬π¬π§ (@kkit573)Football is just weird π
Can you see why Messi will always be clear?
Being an excellent scorer of the ball can always and easily be replicated.
Right before our eyes man π https://t.co/Yh1LGR9HTi
A young Messi would tear apart that league. https://t.co/g7F73G6WyN
β π§π· β β β β β (@brilliantbusi)When he surpasses Ronaldoβs legacy and breaks all his goalscoring records https://t.co/7TI1kmqUyc pic.twitter.com/yOzcx4Sn2v
β Monzi [cvg] (@MagicOfBarca)A finished player π https://t.co/Kezk8EUKfa
β Ρ Ο Ξ· g ΞΉ Ξ· ' β‘ (@chagakydmustard)His injury record they said, he wonβt adapt to the system they said https://t.co/pTdwDXlHTk pic.twitter.com/Z59O4GwXE9
β π―π² Wicked Man Chris π (@KansHTG)Legacy of cr7 in premierleague is a myth.... https://t.co/ZqAazqkMH8
β crush from finding nemo (@sirehurib1)Ronaldo is some peoples goat as well you know π€£π€£π€£π€£ https://t.co/zAXlvn7Cap
β J (@__JackL)Somebodyβs goat π π https://t.co/IQfdbpdDXw
β BlackGrass (@iLAKE10)Ronaldo PL career we are going to start a dialogue. https://t.co/5oc2rKaTun pic.twitter.com/8pu1rkrnMZ
β Presh Frince (@ApDeMak)However, notwithstanding this comparison, several Ronaldo fans supported the legendary striker and called the comparison between the two ridiculous and uncalled for. Some users said drawing parallels between the Portuguese star, who has won five Champions League titles, five Ballon d'Or trophies and scored 699 goals in his club career to Haaland, who still has a long career ahead, does not make sense. Some CR7 fans also mentioned that this comparion between the two players is driven by arch-rival Lionel Messi's PR machinery.
Here's a look at what those who came out in support of Ronaldo over this stats said:
Champions League titles:
5 - Cristiano Ronaldo (37 years)
0 - Manchester City (142 years) https://t.co/HZ19msnJJi
Lmao na Messi Stan dey run this account https://t.co/UgRAEzplZb
β Ore-oluwa (@OG_Monkeyyy)Wallahi this is a very stupid thing to compare. Haaland will never come close to Ronaldo https://t.co/XNmcISYO3U
β Mameen (@alamyeenMS_)Messiβs pr crazy https://t.co/8M6TPpcY1W
β ππΏ (@matichimself)They really want to compare 37 year old Ronaldo to 22 year old Haaland. Let us know when heβs won 5 ucls and Ballan dβor π https://t.co/gDRd2gN5JD
β πΎπͺ (@yanited_21)I hope this helps https://t.co/t5RLIiF0B1 pic.twitter.com/qdnTF5js5N
β CR7Portugal π΅πΉ (@CR7Portugaall)Ronaldo was not a striker in his first spell at united. Now shut the hell up https://t.co/JWzIpVR8sd pic.twitter.com/0qGEKdME3x
β Sarah (@Sarahhaayy)Comparing apples and pears. One is winding down his career, the other is still very young and a long way to goβ¦ https://t.co/TNYePOwwyy
β ππ‘ππ ππππ π (@MphoMaboi_)Comparing a player in his prime to one of the GOATs, who is past his historic prime, is just lazy and unimaginative tbh. https://t.co/cLr2XVpTld
β OSHOKE! (@KhalidOshoke)Ronaldo was a midfielder tf? Gary linekar himself called him one. https://t.co/55hdHsAYIH pic.twitter.com/BGDJrcxj7T
β MO (@AM_00NN11)Ronaldo is the SI unit in football, no other explanation for this. https://t.co/J9JN4xiO0A
β Audere Est Faucere (@shem_nyakeriga)Let Haaland do this https://t.co/Eax8G9pCRe pic.twitter.com/00HTAPsSX6
β Adapt Funπ (@Ayomighti)Please stop comparing Goals with Talent π₯± https://t.co/Z5uIvQgDSg
β Ninoto Z Katty (@ninoto_zuheto)