CRISTIANO RONALDO scored a hat-trick in the perfect response to recent criticism suggesting he is no longer Portugal’s best player.
Ronaldo, 39, left elite football last year when he joined Al-Nassr but is still dominating the Saudi Pro League with a staggering 33 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances.
And the star forward will be joining Portugal for Euro 2024 in what could be his last ever international competition.
However, European football expert Andy Brassell claimed CR7 may have to get used to becoming a squad player for Roberto Martinez’s side.
That is because Brassell claims the Manchester United legend is no longer his national team’s best player.
He claims that is an honour that now belongs to Manchester City star Bernardo Silva.
Read More on Football
Brassell told talkSPORT: “I think Cristiano Ronaldo realises now that sometimes he’ll start, and sometimes he’ll be a squad player and that is just what he’s going to have to live with.
“It’s interesting because to even think about criticising Ronaldo two or three years ago would have been treated as complete heresy in Portugal.
“Whereas now, I think people understand that Bernardo Silva is their best player.”
However, Ronaldo extended his stunning goalscoring exploits with another hat-trick against Al-Tai on Saturday as he led Luis Castro’s side to a 5-1 victory in Riyadh.
Most read in Football
And the Real Madrid great did it in style as he registered his 64th career treble.
Ronaldo posted on Instagram after the game: “This is how we do it. Amazing victory and another hat-trick!”
The Portugal captain’s post led to over 3million likes while his 626m followers flooded the comments’ section.
The ex-Juventus star’s fans paid tribute to their “GOAT” who registered his 34th hat-trick since turning 30.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
One fan commented: “The GOAT.”
Another posted: “The best player in the world.”
A third wrote: “Never doubt the GOAT.”
This one said: “Yessssss.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
And that one gushed: “Siuuuu.”
Al-Nassr, though, are second in the Pro League table with 12 points separating them from leaders Al-Hilal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
