UPDATE:
18 years after his first debut for Manchester United, Ronaldo electrified the Old Trafford faithful with two goals in his second club debut last Saturday in a 4-1 win over Newcastle, after receiving a hearty home welcome.
As Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, trains ahead of his second Man Utd debut in Saturday’s Premier League match against Newcastle, the classic argument rages on.
Notably, one of Utd’s greatest players of all time, fans are celebrating the news that Ronaldo is back and hungrier than ever. They have to be jubilant.
📨 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴: Tuesday's training footage…#MUFC pic.twitter.com/l8x3xZrTso
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 7, 2021
With the success of his first stint, you can hardly argue with them. During his first spell in Manchester, he scored 118 goals and won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2007-2008 season, the year he helped United claim their last Champions League title.
A fee of 15 million euros ($17.75m) will be paid to Juventus over five years. That could be increased by 8 million euros ($9.5m) depending on “specific performance objectives” Ronaldo achieves.
“Manchester United is a club that has always had a special place in my heart and I have been overwhelmed by all the messages I have received since the announcement on Friday,” Ronaldo said in a statement.
That argument, which builds for a final showdown, is between the world’s two best footballers at their new clubs, Ronaldo for Utd and Lionel Messi, 34, for Paris Saint-Germain.
Shirt sales are through the roof as if to prelude the anticipation. International breaks have never been this frustrating, especially after some players did not make their travels due to Covid19 fears, complicating this weekend lineups, as possible action by FIFA looms.
A simply 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 mood 🤩
🤝 @Cristiano #MUFC | #RonaldoReturns pic.twitter.com/o0ifX9vpI0
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 9, 2021
Messi was given a hero’s welcome, when he made his PSG debut as a substitute in their 2-0 win over Reims. Messi replaced his friend and former Barcelona team-mate Neymar.
Now it is down to the Portuguese phenomenon and how much time his manager is willing to risk playing him since he only just joined his new teammates for training. Ronaldo is rumored to get playing time, especially since his ongoing battle with Messi rages on.
Ronaldo has 5 Champions League medals and has dominated leagues in three different and most competitive footballing countries; England, Spain and Italy.
The pressure is really on Messi to succeed outside of Spain where he spent the majority of his career in one club. Fail and he will be second best to Ronaldo.
Ronaldo has scored more club goals than Messi, but only just. With his 674 to Messi’s 672, the competition is close, but Ronaldo had the advantage of playing competitive football longer than Messi.
Ronaldo’s highest season return was 61, in the 2014-2015 season, in which he completed in typical Ronaldo fashion, bagging a hattrick for Real Madrid in their 7-3 win against Getafe
When it comes to assists, Messi dominates Ronaldo 226 to 139. Messi also edged out Ronaldo in number of overall titles; 26 to 21. Messi also takes the honors when it comes to Ballon d’Or awards, notching 6 to Ronaldo’s 5.
It will be an epic battle and the biggest winners have to be the fans.
