Despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick record being the most of any player currently playing football, his stat in that regard for Manchester United is shocking.
The time World Player of the Year has scored over 700 goals in his career for club and country, and has scored a record 59 hat-tricks in his career. He has five more hat-tricks than closest rival Lionel Messi, and recently became the top scorer in the history of world football.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United hat-trick total is shocking low. Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored one hat-trick for the Red Devil’s, despite scoring 59 total hat-tricks over the past 20 years of his career.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s only hat-trick for Man United came many years ago, when he was the best player in the world playing for his manager and father figure, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United Hat-trick
Cristiano Ronaldo’s only hat-trick for Manchester United came on 12 January, 2008 in a Premier League fixture against Newcastle United. Captained by future Manchester United title winner Michael Owen, Newcastle United travelled to Old Trafford en route to a 12th place finish in the Premier League, whilst being managed by legendary former manager Kevin Keegan.
Manchester United had the chance to leapfrog Arsenal in the table that day if they could defeat Newcastle, and they did just that – and in some style.
With the likes of Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo all starting for the Red Devils, there was no lack of firepower for Manchester United to put Newcastle to the sword in this fixture.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a wonderful free kick, that he sent under the wall and past Shay Given into the bottom corner. Carlos Tevez doubled the lead minutes later after a defensive error, and that opened the floodgates for Man United to pounce on.
Ronaldo secured his second of the game in the 70th minute after some great passing play from Rooney and Tevez, who slipped Ronaldo through to finish coolly past Shay Given to make it 3-0.
Rio Ferdinand scored a rare goal on the 85th minute, scoring an outrageous volley from a tight angle after Rooney’s beautiful chip took him clear of the Newcastle back four. Any player would be proud of that finish, let alone a goal-shy centre half.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United Hat-trick was completed just minutes later. A ball from John O’Shea into the box was cleared poorly, and fell to Ronaldo. He turned to trick one Newcastle player off his feet, before firing the ball into the corner with a left foot shot from close range.
Despite winning multiple Balon D’or’s and becoming the highest scoring footballer in the history of the sport, this was the one and only time Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick for Manchester United.
What did you think of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man United Hat-trick? Let us know in the comments or click below to read more
