Wonder hit adds to Ronaldo mystique

Sir Alex Ferguson called Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick against Portsmouth FC "the best" he had seen in the Premier League as he edged closer to a George Best record.

'A marvellous hit'
The Manchester United FC winger had already opened the scoring at Old Trafford when he unleashed a fearsome set-piece which left Portsmouth goalkeeper David James – making his 500th league appearance – rooted to his line "like a stalagmite", according to the Guardian newspaper. "That must be the best free-kick in the Premier League," said Sir Alex. "It was a marvellous hit. It was within two inches of the junction of the crossbar and the post. No goalkeeper in the world could possibly save it."

Best record
The Portuguese international took his personal tally to 27 for the season – just five goals short of the 32 scored by the most prolific winger in United history, Best, in the 1967/68 season – and he was extremely pleased with his showcase effort. "It's difficult to say but maybe this one is the best [goal of my career]," said the 22-year-old. "It's my style to shoot like that – sometimes it's a goal, sometimes not. I'm very proud to help my team."

Team-mates in awe
United defender Nemanja Vidić was in awe of his team-mate's efforts, saying: "I think it was the best goal I've seen in a game I have played in." Midfielder Michael Carrick, meanwhile, saw the strike as another tribute to Ronaldo's dedication on the training ground. "He practices an awful lot and obviously the more you do that, the better you'll get," he said. "A few have flown in this season and I don't think that's down to luck. We all know the ability he's got."

Legendary status
While Ronaldo edges closer to the kind of Old Trafford demi-god status accorded to the mercurial Best, Sir Alex feels his young charge is already eclipsing two other United legends in terms of his set-pice skills, saying: "David Beckham's strike-rate was pretty good, Eric Cantona used to take them too but Ronaldo's strike-rate is phenomenal."