Brilliance never stands still.
Two seasons ago, Cristiano Ronaldo was an out-and-out winger who contributed seven goals to Man. Utd’s Premiership campaign. After taking his 2007/8 tally to 31 with a coolly taken penalty against Wigan on Sunday, he has completed his transformation into the league’s hottest goalscorer – and wearer of the league’s hottest boot. For the seventh season on the bounce, the Premier League’s leading striker achieved the accolade wearing a pair of Nike Mercurial Vapors.
Since debuting his new Mercs with a sublime hat-trick against Newcastle back in January, it was never in doubt that Ronaldo would join the likes of Dider Drogba, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry in the Premiership predators’ Hall of Fame by the end of the season.
Right now there’s just no way of stopping a complete goalscorer who's as comfortable firing in left-footed thunderbolts as burying headers like bullets. You can try putting up a wall, but it won’t make a whole lot of difference whether he chooses to go over it or under it.
With 31 goals in 34 appearances (41 strikes across all competitions), it looks like there’s plenty more in the tank – especially with a Champions League final booked for 21st May, and a blockbuster summer of football on the way.
You can ask the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Franck Ribery, Robinho and Pato whether it’s the player that makes the boots or the boots that makes the player. Either way, one thing’s certain: seven straight Premiership scoring titles is next level.
7 for 7 is Next Level
13 May 2008