Frank Lampard lauds Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring 700th club goal

Add as preferred source on Google

Everton manager Frank Lampard has lauded Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo after he netted his 700th club career goal against the Toffees.

The 37-year-old started last night’s clash at Goodison Park on the bench, but he came on at the half an hour mark to replace the injured Anthony Martial.

Despite starting his sixth successive Premier League game on the bench, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner netted his first top-flight goal of the 2022-23 campaign to ensure the Red Devils left Merseyside with all three points.

Frank Lampard lauds Cristiano Ronaldo

Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Erik ten Hag’s side, the former Derby County and Chelsea manager, who played against Ronaldo several times during his playing career, heaped praise on United’s legendary number seven.

Lampard told Sky Sports News: “He keeps scoring goals as he’s done and to rack the numbers up that he’s racked up, that’s just become normal – abnormal numbers have become normal year after year.

“Looking after himself in the right way, I don’t know him particularly well, but you can do nothing but admire those numbers – they’re amazing.

“When he was on 699, I wanted him to score in the Europa League the other night because you could feel what might come at the weekend, and then he comes on because Martial has got a problem – sometimes those things happen in football.

“But in the cold light of day I’ll give him huge credit for that, it’s amazing.

“It is outstanding, one of the greatest players that has graced the game in an era when we have had himself and Messi,” said Lampard via BBC Sport.

“The comparison doesn’t matter, they are both incredible players in football history.”

With Martial potentially facing another period on the sidelines, Ronaldo will be targeting his first Premier League start since the chastening 4-0 defeat to Brentford back in August, when Manchester United host Newcastle United on Sunday.

But the twenty-time league champions host Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League on Thursday, and after coming agonisingly close to scoring against the Cypriots last time out, a confident Ronaldo will no doubt be targeting further goals against Neil Lennon’s side.