Everton boss Frank Lampard was left hailing “incredible” Cristiano Ronaldo despite the Portuguese having chalked up his 700th club goal against his side.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus forward was on hand to score the winning goal at Goodison Park on Sunday evening by netting a clinical strike just before the break. It was his first Premier League goal of the campaign and was enough to claim three points for the Red Devils after Antony had cancelled out Alex Iwobi’s early opener.
It was a landmark moment for Ronaldo as it accounted for his 700th club goal in his career having found the net for regularly for Sporting Clube de Portugal, Real Madrid, Juventus and, of course, the Red Devils.
Despite the goal having condemned his Toffees’ side to defeat on the night, Lampard was typically gracious and complimentary of the 37-year-old - although did admit that he hoped the forward had chalked up the landmark before the showdown at Goodison.
Speaking after the final whistle, he said: “It is outstanding. He is one of the greatest players that has graced the game, ever, in an era when we have had himself and Lionel Messi. The comparison between them doesn’t matter; they are both incredible players in football history.
“The numbers they have racked up, abnormal numbers that have become normal. When he was on 699, I wanted him to score in the Europa League [against Omonia Nicosia] the other night but it wasn’t to be.”
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Lampard is certainly not the only one to have toasted Ronaldo’s goalscoring abilities following victory at Goodison Park. United boss Erik ten Hag was also delighted to see him notch his landmark strike and has backed the veteran forward to add further to that count throughout the remainder of the season.
"That is really impressive, when you score 700 goals," Ten Hag said. "It's a huge performance, I'm really happy for him. I congratulate him on that performance and I'm also happy it's his first goal this season in the Premier League - he had to wait for it and I'm sure there will be more goals.
"I think every player needs it, even when you are the best in the world, you need it, you need the goals.
"And I worked with many goalscorers, especially them, they need goals in every season to have that feeling, to have the confirmation of the intuition. And once they have some goals, they come in the flow and games go easier. That will happen with him as well."
Ronaldo next has a chance to get on the scoresheet in the Red Devils’ return clash with Omonia Nicosia in midweek before their Premier League showdown with in-form Newcastle United next weekend.
