Terrace Talk

We stand on the cusp of history at Old Trafford this season. As this is typed, Cristiano Ronaldo is on the verge of breaking George Best’s club record of 32 goals in a season scored from the winger position.

Based on that pending milestone as well as recent form and all sorts of recognition from the media and peers, the question that now begs to be asked is this: Where exactly does Cristiano Ronaldo stand with regards to the many legends who have plied their trade on the hallowed grounds of Sir Matt Busby Way? This is so simple a question and indeed, it usually provokes a simple kneejerk response by many supposed pundits, but yet it remains so complex as to warrant further study.

That Ronaldo is a man who on current form merits acknowledgment as one of the three to five best in the world is beyond a doubt. Even those with no affinity (or even those filled with contempt) for Manchester United would be forced to admit that this young man has logged some truly incredible performances for his club over the past few months stretching back to the beginning of last season. The statistics certainly make the case quite compelling. Last season Ronaldo bagged 23 goals for himself to finish the season tied as the team’s top goalscorer in all competitions while the team drove to the Premiership title, an FA Cup runners-up spot, and a Champions’ League semi-final spot. His form was not unnoticed, and his receiving 14 individual awards including a sweep of PFA individual awards as well as inclusion in the PFA Premiership Team Of The Season bear testimony to that.

What about this season? So far, he has scored 29 goals, with a full three months left of play in the season.

Is that enough? Does Cristiano Ronaldo currently merit consideration for inclusion in the pantheon of the greatest players to ever don a Manchester United jersey? In a long and illustrious line including such names as Meredith, Pearson, Edwards, Byrne, Viollet, Charlton, Best, Law, Robson, Keane, Cantona, Giggs, and Schmeichel, has Cristiano Ronaldo done enough to chisel his name next on that list?

Statistically, it is hard to argue against a “Yes.” However, a look beyond the sheer number of goals scored and individual achievements tells a different story. One major knock on Ronaldo’s career to this point, beyond the accusations of diving (which thankfully appears to be a phase of his career that now looks more and more a thing of the past), is that he has shown a tendency to fade out of the big matches. It is the big matches where players ascend from the realm of ordinary to special, or from special to legendary. This is not to say that Ronaldo’s ability in the biggest of situations should be the sole determining factor for now, but in the absence of longevity, it must be considered along with his numbers.

At the end of the day, there may or may not be specific defining moments to the usual suspects already named as “United’s Greatest Ever.” A perfect example would be Robson vs. Barcelona in 1984. However, for the most part, you saw a recurring theme throughout their careers, that being the ability to shine and lead when their club needed them the most. Sometimes it was for sustained periods of time (Charlton’s career), sometimes it was for an all-too-brief but superlative period in the club’s history (Best and Cantona), sometimes it was for presence on the field (Keane and Schmeichel).

What Cristiano Ronaldo brings to the table every time he steps onto the pitch cannot be denied. Neither can his statistical production. All that being said, until he is able to take that next step beyond individual achievement, be it awards garnered or goals won, and starts showing any one of the intangible qualities typically associated with players who attain the status of “Club Legend,” judgment should be reserved on Ronaldo.