Cristiano Ronaldo had a big answer to his critics on Sunday as he netted a hat-trick within 32 minutes as Juventus comfortably swept aside Cagliari in Serie A.
Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from Juventus this week as the Turin giants are thought to be keen to get the Portuguese superstar off their wage bill.
And he sent a message here to potential suitors that the 36-year-old still has much to give.
Cagliari 1-3 Juventus: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats
Ronaldo had a clear energy from the off and he set about taking the game to Cagliari almost single-handedly.
⚽ ⏱️ 10’ Ronaldo’s first goal saw him leap high above his marker in trademark fashion to bullet home a header into the roof of the net and get Juve up and running.
⚽ ⏱️ 25’ 15 minutes later, it was CR7 himself who won the penalty kick after being fouled by goalkeeper Alessio Cragno as he tried to go around him, and slotted home with ease.
⚽ ⏱️ 32’ And the hat-trick was completed just after the half-hour mark, cutting in from the right-hand side to smash his left-footed shot into the net.
✔ IMPROVEMENT
Ronaldo’s display here was an improvement to his display in the Champions League and the perfect tonic for those who are beginning to write him off as he gets older and older, recording a 9.2 FC Rating.
🗝️ Key Stats
Ronaldo match stats
| Statistic | Value | Notes |
| FC Rating | 9.3 | Man of the Match |
| Mins Played | 90 | |
| Goals | 3 | Rank #1 |
| Shots | 5 | Rank #1 |
| Shots on target | 3 | Rank #1 |
| Touches in the box | 11 | Rank #2 |
Ronaldo: What Next?
Given the size of Ronaldo’s wages at Juventus, the rumours of a move this summer are unlikely to disappear, and though he is contracted to Juve until 2022, it will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to offer him another chance at this stage of his career.
Cagliari 1-3 Juventus: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats
