Graeme Souness was blown away after reading a staggering stat involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland.Ronaldo scored the 700th club goal of his remarkable career for Manchester United against Everton on Sunday night.The legendary Portuguese forward, who turns 38 in February, sealed all three points for the Red Devils at Goodison Park after coming off the bench midway through the first half to replace the injured Anthony Martial.That was Ronaldo’s first Premier League goal of what has been a frustrating campaign for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.Erik ten Hag has preferred the likes of Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and the aforementioned Martial in advanced positions during the opening months of his Man Utd tenure.He would like to keep Ronaldo for the entire season but reportedly won’t stand in his way this winter if a satisfactory offer comes in from another club.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Manchester United at Goodison Park on October 09, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Souness blown away by Ronaldo - Haaland stat
Following his latest landmark goal, Souness read a stat out on talkSPORT which is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
The pundit said to host Jim White: “Can I just read something to you?
“If Ronaldo never scores again, and Haaland also plays until he’s 38 years old, Haaland will have to score 43 goals a season for the next 16 years just to level Cristiano’s record.
“43 goals a season for the next 16 years! What does that say about him?â€
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Video: Souness blown away by Ronaldo - Haaland stat
Watch the clip here:
That’s mad, isn’t it?
Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund and already has 20 goals in 13 matches for Man City, but the 22-year-old striker will need to be ultra consistent over the next decade and a half to equal Ronaldo’s mind-blowing goalscoring achievements.
Souness reconsiders Ronaldo - Messi GOAT opinion
In fact, Souness is even reconsidering his opinion that Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer of all time ahead of Ronaldo.
The Scot added: “He can sit in a room with anybody that’s every played football and say: ‘You know what? I think I’m the best player ever’
“I’ve always leant more towards Messi. They’re the two best ever, for me.
“I’m now… see Ronaldo has done it in the big leagues, hasn’t he? Messi has sort of huffed and puffed in the French league. He obviously did the business in Spain and the Champions League - which, for me, was taken the argument away why he wasn’t such a player for Argentina [because] he was still playing against the same players in the Champions League every fortnight and making them look like schoolboys.
“But Cristiano’s done it in three leagues now: Spain, Italy, our league.â€
Watch the clip here:
Another former Scotland international who declared his belief that Ronaldo is the best footballer of all time following the Man Utd star’s 700th goal is Andy Gray.
Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo: Pundit reveals what 'separates him from Messi’ after 700th goal
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