Staff Reporter.
Cristiano Ronaldo reached another landmark in his remarkable career when he scored his 700th club goal to put Manchester United in front against Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
The veteran forward, who has found minutes hard to come by under new United coach Erik ten Hag, was summoned off the bench in the first half at Goodison Park for the injured Anthony Martial, putting his team 2-1 in front 14 minutes after coming on.
It took him to the landmark of 700 strikes, 20 years and two days after his first goal for Sporting Lisbon as a scrawny teenager. He is now 10 club goals ahead of his once great rival Lionel Messi.
It was Ronaldo’s 144th goal for United across two spells at the club, added to five for Sporting, 450 for Real Madrid and 101 for Juventus.
Meanwhile Erik ten Hag said he is hoping Ronaldo’s 700th club goal of his career can spark a return to form after the Portuguese scored the winner in 2-1 win at Everton.
“Every player needs it (confidence), even when you are the best in the world,” said Ten Hag after Ronaldo’s first Premier League goal of the season.
“I worked with many goalscorers and they need the goals in every season to have that feeling, that confirmation of the intuition.
“Once they have some goals, they come in a flow and games go easier. That will happen with him as well.”
The Red Devils were seeking a response to being thrashed 6-3 by Manchester City last weekend but got off to the worst possible start.
On his first Premier League start since arriving for £60 million ($67 million) from Real Madrid, Casemiro was culpable for the opening goal as he was robbed in possession by Amadou Onana and the ball eventually broke for Alex Iwobi to curl into the top corner from outside the box.