Cristiano Ronaldo Stats Show He's The Greatest At Headers

Cristiano Ronaldo reminded everyone how good he still is on Saturday, with a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur, and aided his record as the modern great of headed goals.

Manchester United had been looking for the real Ronaldo to stand up and be counted against Spurs, after the 37-year-old had scored just one goal in his 10 previous games.

He duly replied by scoring a hat-trick to drag Ralf Rangnick's side to a much needed three points against their top four rivals, despite Antonio Conte's side scoring two of their own, and inspired Tom Brady to make a comeback in the process.

After a brilliant long range strike for his first, and tapping home his second, Ronaldo came up with the winner by heading home a corner.

That was his 66th headed goal since 2009, his first season at Real Madrid, and only increased his lead over Robert Lewandowski, who has 48 goals scored with that part of his body, as he continues to be a modern great of headers.

At least at the start of that period the five time Ballon d'Or winner was playing as a wide player for Real, before he eventually moved into being a central striker.

However, even when he was playing as more of a winger, the Portugal star's heading ability and high leaps have always been mightily impressive.

During his first spell at United two of his great Champions League goals came from impressive headers, against Roma in 2008, in the quarter finals, and later that same season in the final against Chelsea.

One of the best examples of his leaping ability came for Juventus in December 2019, when he rose about the Sampdoria defence to put his side ahead.

Former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino has explained in the past what makes the men's all time top goalscorer so good at headers.

"The 34-year-old Portuguese has taken heading to a new level and has mastered so many different types of header when most players are lucky to be good at one or two," Cascarino said.

"..."Ronaldo's heading is like a perfect golf swing, everything is working in tandem and when it all clicks there is little you can do to stop him.

"His body shape has changed a lot over the years and he has clearly spent a lot of time working on his upper body strength.

"This allows him to lift himself into the air and get his body in the right position to head the ball."

United fans won't care how he does it, just as long as he continues to do it!