Ronaldo embraces perfection as he declares himself ahead of Pelé
Cristiano Ronaldo achieved perfection on Sunday. One goal with his head, another with his right foot and finally a third with his left. A perfect hat-trick, in the language of football. Perhaps it felt a little less flawless to the Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno, who bled from the chin when the forward’s studs caught him in the 14th minute, before the last two of those goals were scored.
It was a challenge that deserved a red card, Ronaldo raising his boot above shoulder height as he challenged for a cross. The referee Gianpaolo Calvarese opted for a yellow. A sliding
doors moment that allowed Ronaldo to turn this into an afternoon of personal vindication, even as the wider context remained ambiguous for him and his club.
This had been a dark week for Juventus following their Champions League defeat by Porto. Ronaldo’s signing in 2018 was celebrated by club directors talking openly about their ambition to conquer Europe. Yet the Bianconeri, who reached the final twice in the four years before his arrival, have now failed to make it beyond the last 16 in consecutive seasons.
Reports in Spain claimed that the player was ready to demand a transfer rather than play out the final year of his contract, unwilling to fritter away any more time on a club unable to match his ambition. In Italy, pundits instead accused him of going missing when his team needed him most. Reflecting on Ronaldo’s three years in Turin, the Gazzetta dello Sport columnist Luigi Garlando wrote: “the summary is a single word: failure.”
A 3-1 win over the team who sit 17th in Serie A will hardly reset the narrative. When Ronaldo ran to the nearest camera and gestured to his ear after completing his hat-trick, it was tempting to wonder whose benefit this was for. Certainly, it did not halt the flow of criticism. The evening ended on Sky Sport with Paolo Di Canio questioning Ronaldo’s courage for turning his back on Sérgio Oliveira’s decisive free-kick in the Porto defeat.
And yet, for the Portuguese, this was another day of landmark achievement. Those three goals took him to 770 in his professional career – enough to move, in his own count, to the top of the all-time goalscoring charts.
Many outlets reported that Ronaldo had already achieved that feat in January, but he explained in an Instagram post that he had wanted to consider goals Pelé scored for the São Paulo State and Brazilian military teams. “The World has changed since then and football has changed as well,” wrote Ronaldo on social media, “but this doesn’t mean that we can just erase history according to our interests.”
In truth, there are those who would still dispute his claim to top spot. There is no official all-time scorers’ table, but Fifa’s website has in the past credited the Hungarian Josef Bican with an “estimated 805 goals”. Romário claims to have scored 1,000, while several Italian newspapers listed him this week on 772.
How much do these details truly matter? It seems certain that Ronaldo will surpass Bican, too, in time. This latest landmark was significant above all because it allowed for a moment of acknowledgement between two of the greatest ever footballers. “Congratulations on breaking my record,” wrote Pelé. “My only regret is not being able to give you a hug today.”
The numbers can serve as a reminder, too, of how much Ronaldo has contributed at Juventus. He is once more top of the Serie A scoring charts for this season, on 23 goals, and will soon reach a century of strikes for a club that he joined less than three years ago.
Discussions of his overall impact ought to consider more than just what happens on the pitch. As Jonathan Wilson wrote in these pages recently, his base salary of £28m a year is an extraordinary financial burden, rendered even weightier by the coronavirus pandemic.
Yet there is no question that Ronaldo has raised Juventus’s profile, a value that is not easily measured even by looking at such metrics as marketing revenue and improved sponsorship deals. Andrea Agnelli was elected chairman of the European Clubs’ Association in 2017 but signing a five-time Ballon d’Or winner the following year undoubtedly helped to consolidate his position as a powerbroker within the continental game.
None of which can make up for the colossal disappointment of this season. Ronaldo’s goals on Sunday will mean little for Juventus’s season unless Inter falter down the stretch.
The Nerazzurri remain 10 points ahead – albeit having played one game more – after they beat Torino on Sunday. Theirs was a much tighter game, poised at 1-1 as late as the 85th minute, before a gorgeous header from Lautaro Martínez sealed their eighth consecutive win.
Juventus might be their only remaining challengers. Milan fell nine points back as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Napoli on Sunday night, their third loss in the last six league games. The Rossoneri looked spent from their Europa League trip to Old Trafford, as well as decimated by injuries. Of their starting XI, perhaps only five players could be considered first-choice, including the recently promoted Fikayo Tomori.
That is not to take anything away from Napoli, who have overcome their own hurdles to fight back towards the Champions League places. Piotr Zielinski has been in spectacular form, and the quality of his assist for Matteo Politano’s goal was only heightened by the sharp exchange of passes with Elseid Hysaj that preceded it, after the Albanian intercepted a pass from Diogo Dalot.
If Ronaldo felt unfairly targeted by the media this week, then Gennaro Gattuso has been unhappy with his treatment for much of this season, lamenting a lack of support from his employer, too, before the club entered a press silence that has endured for almost a month. It is expected that he will leave at the end of the season, though neither he nor the club have said so publicly.
Napoli are 11 points and 15 goals better off than they were at the corresponding point last season, but Sunday’s win was their first outside of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona since 10 January and they remain in fifth for now. Perhaps Gattuso just felt at home back at San Siro. But if Milan are not careful, they could yet become the team that he displaces from the top four.
1) Dropping Aubameyang pays off in the end
Mikel Arteta’s benching of PierreEmerick Aubameyang for lateness was hardly draconian. Gone are the days when Sir Alex Ferguson made David Beckham sit in the Elland Road stands after missing training to attend to a sick Brooklyn or Roy Keane commanded the Sunderland team bus to leave three players behind because they were a minute late. But as Tottenham’s ropea-dope tactics looked to be working in the first half, the tardy captain’s demotion appeared a case of principles overriding pragmatism. When Alexandre Lacazette chose to step over rather than to shoot in the moments following Érik Lamela’s goal, Aubameyang’s incisiveness appeared an avoidable loss. So too when Lacazette swung at fresh air when Nicolas Pépé had cued him up. All parties will be thankful for Davinson Sánchez’s clattering follow-through giving Lacazette chance to score from the spot. Discipline established, a derby win, all good for Arteta. John Brewin• Match report: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
2) Eagles are safe but face tough end to season
What now for Crystal Palace? Even if Roy Hodgson and his players are still preaching caution over whether they have already secured their Premier League status for next season after beating West Brom on Saturday, no team has been relegated with 37 points since Newcastle in 2015-16 and Palace still have nine games to play. A threeweek break until they play Everton could give Hodgson a real crack at reaching 50 points, which would surpass Palace’s highest tally in the top flight since being promoted in 2013. Yet with all but two of their remaining matches against opposition who are above them in the table, Gary Cahill admitted it won’t necessarily be easy. “When we come back from the international break it’s about the desire to try and push on up the league now with a very difficult run-in,” he said. Ed Aarons
• Match report: Crystal Palace 1-0 West Brom
3) McNeil using Clarets as stepping stone
Sean Dyche believes Dwight McNeil will ultimately play for what the Burnley manager likes to describe as one of the Premier League’s “superpower” clubs. His view was certainly supported by the winger’s sublime winner at Everton
and overall contribution. Almost as striking, however, was the fact it was only McNeil’s second goal of the campaign and equalled his return for last season, too. Seven goals in 87 league appearances is an obvious area of improvement for the 21-year-old. “He spends a lot of time working for the team,” offered Dyche as a defence. “If you think there are six or seven ‘superpower clubs’ in this league who dominate the ball home and away, that’s 14 games a season where you’re likely to have less of the ball and you have to work diligently with it. Dwight does that. Learning to play on the counter or how to stretch teams comes with experience, and he’s getting loads of experience at a very young age.” Andy Hunter
• Match report: Everton 1-2 Burnley
4) Agüero shows he can provide glorious farewell
Pep Guardiola’s starting XI against Fulham raised memories of the autumn of 2017: three at the back and Sergio Agüero alongside Gabriel Jesus up front. Yet while that approach was enough to secure a 3-0 win over Scott Parker’s lowly side, it is unlikely that Guardiola will start two strikers in City’s biggest games. City often play without a recognised striker and, although Agüero scored his first league goal in 14 months against Fulham, the Argentinian is no longer the force of old. The 32-year-old has made 13 appearances this season and is unlikely to extend his contract before it runs out this summer. But while Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland is potentially one for the club’s future, Agüero can still help City make history this season. An elite finisher will help the quadruple bid. City will be involved in tight games during the run-in. If Agüero stays fit he could have a glorious farewell. Jacob Steinberg
• Match report: Fulham 0-3 Manchester
City
5) Tuchel hints at need for different striker
A dozen games into Thomas Tuchel’s reign and Chelsea have had three goals from strikers: two from Olivier Giroud and one from Tammy Abraham. Timo Werner’s lone strike for his compatriot came when operating on the left. Kai Havertz led the line at Leeds but is yet to find the net under the new manager. Tuchel downplayed his own importance by suggesting that centre-forwards tended not to be the product of coaching, though it prompted the question if it means Chelsea need another natural-born scorer. “I truly believe that the best strikers were always strikers, it’s not so much about the coaches they had, it’s just in their blood,” Tuchel said. “They have a certain profile, they have a certain approach. Timo always scored a huge amount of goals, it’s very natural for him to score and to define himself as the guy who has the last touch. These are very unique characters and a very unique position.” Richard Jolly
• Match report: Leeds 0-0 Chelsea 6) Iheanacho finds his feet at the right time for Foxes
Kelechi Iheanacho and Ayoze Pérez have generally been disappointing signings for Leicester. The Nigerian was brought in to reduce the dependency on Jamie Vardy for goals, while the Spaniard was hired to add creativity so that the team does not depend too much on James Maddison and Harvey Barnes. Neither player has quite risen to those challenges. But maybe now they are taking flight. Iheanacho has performed very well in recent weeks, never more so than in Sunday’s victory against Sheffield United when he capped an excellent all-round display with his first hat-trick for the club. His five goals in his last three matches are his best run for Leicester, and well timed given
Vardy has found the net only once in his last 12 league games. Rather than replace Vardy, however, Iheanacho has formed a productive partnership with the 34-year-old, who set up two of Iheanacho’s goals before provoking Ethan Ampadu into scoring an own goal. Paul Doyle
• Match report: Leicester 5-0 Sheffield United
7) Manchester United are not to be feared
Teams seem to travel to Old Trafford thinking the Class of ’92 are still providing the Manchester United backbone. West Ham were the latest to sit back and defend, lacking the confidence that could see them break down a team with questionable stability at the back. There is residual fear that they can rip through teams but under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer they have rarely showed they have the capabilities to stun teams going forward. Sometimes the best form of defence is attack, as putting them under pressure is a better idea than setting up with a low block to stop a side lacking any sort of fluidity. United do not have enough players to open defences within tight spaces, only Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba can claim to be dynamic playmakers. Other teams should take note a visit to Old Trafford is not to be feared – they are a different side now, one that can be got at. Will Unwin
• Match report: Manchester United 1-0 West Ham 8) It could be time to give Carroll a rare start
Newcastle travel to Brighton for a quintessential relegation six-pointer on Saturday with a fragile truce apparently holding in their fractured dressing room. Some players may remain disenchanted with Steve Bruce but others are staying loyal to Rafael Benítez’s successor. Significantly, the latter group includes Jonjo Shelvey, a midfielder recently rehabilitated as a seemingly automatic starter by Bruce. Shelvey’s game divides opinion and his performances tend to be a bit hit and miss but he can become deeply discontented when sidelined and the Newcastle manager’s decision to keep him very much inside the tent can arguably be construed to be as much political as tactical. Meanwhile Andy Carroll is frustrated after dropping down Bruce’s pecking order but, as a late substitute, he petrified Aston Villa’s defence, with his decoy work helping create the space for Jamaal Lascelles to head a vital stoppage-time equaliser. Maybe Carroll should start at Brighton? Louise Taylor
• Match report: Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa
9) Seagulls defenders showing international class
A victory that Graham Potter insisted will give Brighton renewed belief in their fight for survival was built upon solid foundations. Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck showed touches of class to secure a vital win at Southampton but Brighton displayed a mean streak that bodes well for the run-in. Ben White and Lewis Dunkwere excellent in the heart of defence and, while Lallana and Welbeck have over 75 England caps between them, White or Dunk pressed their case for a senior call-up in front of the watching Under-21s manager, Aidy Boothroyd. The 23-year-old White is uncapped, while Dunk’s sole cap came almost three years ago. “Thankfully, it’s not my problem,” Potter said. “It’s over to Gareth [Southgate] to decide. I thought he [Dunk] was fantastic and he scored a great goal. He’s an unbelievable player for us, so important and a massive part of what we’re doing. But all Lewis can do is keep playing well.” Ben Fisher
• Match report: Southampton 1-2 Brighton 10) The value of a competent second choice
Everton’s João Virgínia became the latest reserve goalkeeper to be thrust into the Premier League limelight this season. Many clubs have needed to chop and change their first choice due to injury, form or paternity leave, as in David de Gea’s case. The art of the second choice is to be a steady head who can cope with the pressure, while being happy to watch on for 90% of the season. Virgínia is third choice at Everton but realises the need to be fully prepared, as you never know when your time will come. There is an art to being a backup, accepting that you cannot kick up a fuss when not selected nor can you ever be relaxed about your role in the squad. Carlo Ancelotti has to hope his third choice can follow in the footsteps of Robert Sánchez, Dean Henderson and Fraser Forster and show that he merits top billing. Will Unwin
and they made a mistake and we never looked back.”
Luna Rossa were crestfallen, having blown the chance to level the match after the New Zealanders had appeared dead in the water.
“Never in the bag as you saw, pretty tough conditions,” said Luna Rossa cohelmsman Jimmy Spithill. “We just fell off the foils and got stuck at the top mark for some time just trying to find enough pressure to get back up on the foils.
“We did some things well, some things we’ve got to tidy up. But we know we can win races. We’ve been in tough positions before ... we’ll come out firing tomorrow.”
The second race was a major contrast to the smooth progress of the first in which TNZ threw down the hammer with raw pace in more stable wind.
However, the defenders were actually outpointed during the pre-start and Luna Rossa hit the line at speed to hold a slender lead through the first two legs.
The Italians opened the door for TNZ with a tactical mistake on the third leg, allowing the New Zealanders to make the first pass of the match and roar to victory with a time of 25:17.