Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal against Brighton this week made it 122 club teams he has now scored against in his career.
With recent strikes against Norwich and Burnley at the end of last year, he has been adding new teams onto his list. Now another potential scalp awaits.
Ronaldo could make Leeds United team number 123 when Manchester United visit Elland Road on Sunday.
Likewise, Robert Sanchez became the 254th goalkeeper Ronaldo has scored past. Leeds’ Ilan Meslier could become number 255.
With Leeds conceding 46 goals already this season, including five against United on opening day before Ronaldo re-signed, the Portuguese star will fancy his chances of grabbing a goal or few.
Ronaldo’s record against Leeds
Cristiano Ronaldo’s opportunities to play against Leeds were limited during his first spell at Manchester United because they were relegated in 2004.
Ronaldo did play against Leeds once, in the Premier League in October 2003. He played 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory at Elland Road with Roy Keane heading in a 81st minute winner.
United’s line-up that day was: Tim Howard, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, Phil Neville, Roy Keane, Darren Fletcher, Quinton Fortune, Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
John O’Shea, Diego Forlan and Nicky Butt all came off the bench in the 1-0 win.
Leeds featured Alan Smith in their line-up, with the likes of Mark Viduka, Gary Kelly, and James Milner, while Aaron Lennon was a substitute.
Ronaldo was an unused substitute in United’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Leeds at Old Trafford later that season, and was rested entirely for the 3-2 extra-time League Cup win at Elland Road also in 2003.
Now in 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo has won the lot, and is still hungry for more.
His goal against Brighton this week showed he still has magic in his boots, arguably more so still than when he was just starting out in the Premier League in 2003.
With Ronaldo keen to warm up for the midweek Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, a team he knows very well, the Leeds reunion test may be perfectly timed.
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