Cristiano Ronaldo‘s motto throughout his glittering career has been “I don’t chase records, records follow me”.
But on a day where he was reintegrated into Manchester United training, the 37-year-old’s grip on being the all-time Champions League top scorer is beginning to loosen.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was back training with his teammates at Carrington after Erik ten Hag dropped him for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea.
Following Ronaldo’s early Old Trafford departure while his teammates were beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0, the former Ajax manager was left with no choice but to discipline his number seven after the Portuguese captain was given a dressing down for leaving the Theatre of Dreams early during the pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
Lionel Messi closes on Cristiano Ronaldo record
While the former Juventus man is back in contention to feature against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on Thursday night, Ronaldo’s greatest rival is itching closer to his Champions League goalscoring record.
Lionel Messi scored twice in Paris Saint Germain’s 7-2 win against Maccabi Haifa last night.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has 11 goals and 12 assists from 16 matches for the French giants this season, and he’s already matched his goal tally from last season.
Four of the Argentine’s goals this season have come in Europe’s top club competition, and he has now scored 129 Champions League goals.
The 35-year-old is 12 goals behind United’s number seven, and on current form he looks set to continue to reduce the gap later on into the campaign.
Maintaining his record over the former Barcelona man would have been a big reason why Ronaldo wanted to join a Champions League club in the summer.
It’s why his agent Jorge Mendes will likely work overtime again during the January transfer window to try and engineer interest from Champions League last-16 clubs.
Ronaldo will be aware of the form Messi is in, and it’s unlikely to help his mood at Carrington. With Ronaldo turning 38 in February there is every chance that Portugal’s all-time top scorer has played his last game in the Champions League unless he’s willing to take a significant pay cut and a side is willing to move mountains to bring him to their respected club.
Despite the Red Devils having the option of extending his deal by a further 12 months, it seems that all parties accept that it’s time to end the relationship amicably when the time is right, and that could be in January.
Sporting Lisbon rule out ‘dream’ Cristiano Ronaldo move
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has claimed that a “dream” move to bring Ronaldo back to his boyhood club almost two decades after he left isn’t financially viable.
“Ronaldo is a top player,” Amorim said via The Evening Standard.
“He is a Manchester United player. Everybody in Sporting dreams of the return for Cristiano but we don’t have the money to pay his wages.
“I think he is happy in Manchester but is not playing so that is the problem.
“But I have my problems, so it is Ten Hag’s problem! I am very happy with my players, no problem at all at the moment.”
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