Cristiano Ronaldo sent overwhelming Manchester United message after setting FIFA record

Cristiano Ronaldo produced the perfect response to missing the Manchester derby by scoring a hat-trick to help Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Having been heavily criticised for flying out to Portugal whilst his team-mates were hammered by their cross-city rivals, Ronaldo produced an outstanding performance, hitting just his second treble in United colours. After seeing his first two goals cancelled out by Harry Kane and a Harry Maguire own-goal, Ronaldo's third of the contest proved to be enough to secure United all three points.

But whilst his third goal of the evening was the deciding moment in the game, it was his second goal, which came as a result of him tapping in Jadon Sancho's low cross, that was the most poignant. That is because it rubber-stamped his place in the history books.

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His second goal against Spurs marked the 806th goal of his senior career, making him the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA men's football history. The record was previously held by Austro-Czech Josef Bican, who netted 805 goals in his career, meaning Ronaldo, following his hat-trick clincher, has now moved two clear.

It was another landmark moment in the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's career and one that will now take some beating. Of his 807 career goals, 136 of them have come for United across his two spells at the club.

Having rubber-stamped his place in the history books, MEN Sport put a question to United's supporters, asking them if the Portuguese star is the greatest player to have played for the Reds. A total of 1,832 people answered and the outcome was very one-sided.

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