Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading scorer in professional football after bagging hat-trick as Manchester United defeated Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night.
Premier League
Result: Manchester United 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Date: 12 March 2022
Venue: Old Trafford
Man United made five changes to the side that was thrashed by Manchester City, as Ronaldo recovered from hip injury, alongside recalls for Marcus Rashford, Nemanja Matic, Diogo Dalot and Raphael Varane.
The Red Devils had a dream start after Ronaldo produced a moment of magic in the 12th minute with a screamer from range that found the top corner after Fred's neat flick.
Spurs were on top of United after that and their persistence was rewarded with a penalty ten minutes before the halftime break for a handball by Alex Telles in the box and Harry Kane made no mistake from 12-yards out.
However, Tottenham were level for only three minutes, as Ronaldo restored United's lead with a close-range finish from Jadon Sancho' square pass, which saw him become the leading scorer in professional football with 806 career goals.
806. @Cristiano.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 12, 2022
Professional football’s all-time leading goalscorer. #MUFC | #MUNTOT
The sides cancelled each other out in the early stages of the second stanza but Spurs gained attacking momentum as the game went on and levelled 18 minutes before time after Harry Maguire scored an own goal trying to clear a cross by Sergio Reguilon.
Antonio Conte refreshed his attack 12 minutes from time, as Lucas Moura replaced Dejan Kulusevski and Ralf Rangnick made an attacking change in the same moment, as Edinson Cavani came on for Matic.
Spurs found themselves behind again in the last nine minutes after Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a precise header after a corner by Telles.
Conte's men were frustrated by United in the dying minutes, as the Red Devils held on to move up to fourth on the log, although they are just two points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal who have four games in hand.
Click through the gallery below to see United's 10 highest-paid players:
