Pranav Nair
Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is the most capped player ace in Champions League history
According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo had more than one reason to be happy following the result against Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League yesterday night.
The 36-year-old scored with seconds to spare to hand the Red Devils their first win in the competition this season. It was the perfect way for him to cap off what was a historic appearance.
Ronaldo has now won 178 caps in the tournament, the highest of any player in history. This has seen him overtake former Real Madrid teammate Iker Casillas in the competition’s record books.
Ronaldo is currently playing in his 19th consecutive season in the competition. During that time, he has represented Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
A five-time winner of the competition, Ronaldo has an impressive record and is amongst the most successful players in Champions League history. His tally of 135 goals makes him the highest scorer in the competition as well. This is 15 more than his closest competitor, Lionel Messi.
While United eventually saw off Villarreal, it was far from an eye-catching performance. In fact, the Spaniards could have settled the tie had their finishing been a tad better.
Ronaldo played a key role in United’s Champions League triumph in 2008. The Red Devils have an excellent squad on paper but will need to up their game massively to repeat the success the time around.
More Manchester United News
- Solskjaer singles out Manchester United duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Jesse Lingard for praise following Villareal win
- Manchester United fans react as Cristiano Ronaldo scores a stoppage-time winner against Villarreal
- Transfer News: Manchester United target Florian Wirtz keen on Bundesliga stay for the time being
With at least four more games to come, one would not bet against Ronaldo to not only add to his list of appearances but also to his goal tally. Another chapter in his long and illustrious career could be about to be written.
