Even when he’s relegated to the margins, Cristiano Ronaldo still ends up grabbing centre stage.
Ronaldo began on the bench, a reflection of his new supporting, rather than starring, role under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
But this most-illustrious of understudies got his chance when Anthony Martial came off injured and he revelled in the spotlight to score his 700th career goal.
At a time when everyone is mesmerised by Erling Haaland ’s scoring feats across Manchester, Ronaldo’s achievement is truly staggering and underlines his status as one of the game’s greatest-ever players.
As Gary Lineker, who knows a thing or two about scoring, said on twitter in his tribute, his stats work out at 35-goals-a-season for the last 20 years.
His clinical finish for United’s second was a fitting way to mark the occasion and it completed United’s comeback after Everton had scored after just five minutes.
It was also the perfect response to last Sunday’s demotion derby and if that display was the Mr Hyde side of United, then this was definitely Dr Jekyll.
They played with energy, desire and passion against an Everton side, who came into the game boasting the Premier League ’s best defence and a seven-match unbeaten run.
Casemiro impressed on his full Premier League debut and the Brazil star recovered from losing possession for Everton’s opener to create Ronaldo’s landmark goal.
A cloud of blue smoke greeted the Everton team coaches because of all the flares set off by the home fans and Frank Lampard has generated a new mood of optimism around Goodison Park.
That positive vibe increased after just five minutes when Amadou Onana robbed Casemiro and Demarai Gray fed Alex Iwobi on the right, who brilliantly curled home a right-footed effort inside the near post.
Iwobi’s first strike of the season ramped up the pressure on United following their 6-3 thumping by Manchester City and they rose to this challenge by seizing control of the game.
They suffocated Everton with their dominance of the ball and equalised on 15 minutes when Antony became the first player to score in his first three Premier League appearances for the club.
Idrissa Gana Gueye lost possession in the centre of the park and Anthony Martial played Anthony through, who expertly dinked the ball left-footed over Jordan Pickford and inside the far post.
United dominated and Pickford saved a drive from Christian Eriksen before denying the twisting and turning Martial.
United should have gone ahead three minutes before half-time when Marcus Rashford curled in a delicious cross from the left only for Casemiro to head wide.
It was only a brief setback for United and Casemiro made amends two minutes later when he won the ball from Iwobi and sent Ronaldo away down the left channel to finish left-footed past Pickford for the 700th goal of his brilliant career.
Still, Ronaldo proved he is fallible when he headed over with Bruno Fernandes coiled behind him ready to pounce.
Rashford thought he had finally scored his first league goal against Everton at the 12th attempt only for it to be disallowed by VAR for a harsh handball call.
Everton rallied in stoppage time when David De Gea denied James Garner a debut goal against his old club to ensure Ronaldo was yet again United’s match winner.
