With Juventus defeating Manchester United 1-0 on Oct. 23 at Old Trafford, the Bianconeri continued their dominance over English competition, having gone nine straight matches without defeat.
It’s not exactly an honor he can put in his stacked trophy case, but there's no doubt Cristiano Ronaldo will be glowing upon learning his Instagram profile now ranks first in most followers on the popular app. Cristiano Ronaldo Instagram followers count just struck 144 million. To put it in perspective, if Ronaldo followers were to break away and start a country of their own (Ronaldosia?
There are few players who can strike a ball like Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Juventus forward is capable of scoring every type of goal, from headers and tap-ins to bicycle kicks and free kicks.
When Cristiano Ronaldo last went up against David de Gea, the Portuguese striker put three past the Spanish keeper in a virtuoso performance during the 2018 World Cup this summer. The Ronaldo vs de Gea matchup went in the opposite direction on Tuesday, with the latter making some impressive saves to deny the former.
Cristiano Ronaldo was full of flicks and tricks early on in his first visit to Old Trafford since joining Juventus. He made Ashley Young look silly with an early move and even had an admirer invade the pitch to see him (though he was tackled before he reached the former Manchester United winger.
Then Ronaldo made an actual imprint on the game, setting up Juventus’ first goal in the 17th minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s slow scoring start to the season was well documented. It took 322 minutes before the prolific striker finally found the back of the net.
Now he can’t stop scoring.
Ronaldo notched in his fifth goal of the Serie A campaign in the 18th minute against Genoa on Saturday to continue a superlative run of scoring — or basically what we’ve come to expect from the Portuguese winger.
On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Old Trafford for only the second time since making his 2009 then-world-record-transfer of nearly $110 million to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Ronaldo has played against Manchester United in three competitive matches over the following period — the 2012-13 Champions League Round of 16 and a brief, seven-minute cameo during the 2017 UEFA Super Cup in Macedonia.
During Cristiano Ronaldo’s quicksilver rise at Manchester United and with the Portugal national team — which was highlighted by his inclusion in the 2004 UEFA Team of the Year at the tender age of 19 — perhaps no quote better illustrated the winger’s otherworldly talent than the praise heaped on him by United’s golden No. 7, George Best: “There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years,” he said, “but this is the first time it’s been a compliment to me.”