Gary Neville puts Lionel Messi debate to bed with Cristiano Ronaldo admission after hat-trick

Manchester United hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo has been lauded by Gary Neville as one of the 'greatest football players'.

Ronaldo netted a treble upon his return to the first team, following his stint with injury, to down Antonio Conte's side and rejuvenate their Champions League chances. He took home the match ball with a thumping header to give the Reds the lead for a third time.

His first-half double made him the top goalscorer in the history of men's football with his rocket of an opener setting the pace for a frantic game with their European contenders. The 37-year-old has been pinpointed for criticism for his return but he silenced his doubters with his first hat-trick since his return and just his second ever in the Premier League.

READ MORE: Manchester United fans rave about Cristiano Ronaldo stunner against Tottenham

Harry Kane's penalty and a Harry Maguire own goal left the game on a knife-edge before the iconic Portugal skipper sent Old Trafford into raptures. Neville waxed lyrical over the attacker and seemingly put the Lionel Messi-Ronaldo debate to bed, Neville said: " He is absolutely incredible. The greatest goalscorer of all time.

"He’s just gone and headed it like a non-league centre-back. He gets up early above Doherty, the challenge is there, the technique, power in the head, absolutely sensational, what a player.

"The first one is absolutely magnificent, classic centre-forward goal, poacher. This one [third] magical, it really is. A player that is so special, so skilful, all talent in the world and heads it like an old fashioned centre-forward.

"The belief he has about himself. He’s in the twilight of his career, he is absolutely sensational, a superstar in a modern game, one of the greatest