By Amanda Cornforth Last updated: 23rd January 2008
Ronaldo: Can he hit 30?
Cristiano Ronaldo has been challenged by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to hit 30 goals this season.
The Portuguese winger has already scored 23 times in all competitions this campaign for the reigning Premier League champions and heads the top-flight scoring table with 17 goals.
The 22-year-old has shown great skill in front of goal despite playing down the wing and could record 30 if his present form continues with United still on course in the league, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.
Ronaldo is set to feature in the FA Cup fourth round clash with Tottenham on Sunday and Ferguson believes he has what it takes to reach the hefty target.
"With Ronaldo having scored 23 goals already, there is the potential for him to score 30 this season without question," Ferguson said.
"He is not that far off and he has a strong chance of doing that.
"I'm sure that he is capable of scoring 30 league goals, though I think that is a different matter entirely.
"Achieving that would be more difficult and I don't think that will happen. It is a big ask, but if he does manage it, I'll pay him more money."

Wolves 1-4 Arsenal - McCarthy
Wolves 1-4 Arsenal - Wenger
Blackburn 3-1 Portsmouth - Allardyce
Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton - Megson
Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland - Redknapp
Man City 3-3 Burnley - Coyle
Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland - Bruce
Man City 3-3 Burnley - Hughes
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Man City 2 - 2 Fulham | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Bolton 3 - 2 Everton | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 11 | 27 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 11 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 11 | 20 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 11 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 10 | 14 |
| 12 | Wigan Athletic | 11 | 13 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 14 | Everton | 10 | 12 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 11 | 11 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 11 | 10 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 10 |
| 19 | Hull City | 11 | 8 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
With Didier Drogba in frightening form, Paul Merson expects Chelsea to beat Man Utd on Sunday.
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has reassured the club's supporters that no star names will be sold.
Sir Alex Ferguson admits that he has had offers to manage abroad but is adamant that 'you don't leave Manchester United'.
Sunderland have revealed Craig Gordon suffered a fractured arm in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Aston Villa and Tottenham made their Champions League aspirations clear as Arsenal also won but Man City were held by Burnley.
Chelsea go into the match with Man Utd at Stamford Bridge in arguably their best form of the season.
Comments (9)
Paul Thomas (Manchester United fan) says...
Ronaldo could get 30 league goals and I think that should be his target. Don't sell him Fergie, he is the best we've had in years - much better than Beckham !!!
Posted 17:14 25th January 2008
Craig Hale (Manchester United fan) says...
Ronaldo will obviously get 30 goals this season.He only has 7 more to get and there is plenty of games to play this season
Posted 11:34 25th January 2008
Sayad Hussenee (Manchester United fan) says...
Ofcourse Christiano Ronaldo is capable of scoring 30 goals this season,with magnificient free kicks, penalties and individual goals he scored by now...I think Ronaldo can be more dangerous in the coming months and he has the ability to win the Golden boot this season...He is the best player in the world so i don't think he can't score more goals and he has a good play of header....... With all this good quality he'l certainly win the challenge... He can be top scorer in the Fa Premierleague, Champions League and also the FA cup, With that player Man Utd can do the Triple again like 1999... Ronaldo best player of the year, Golden Boot, Golden Ball for this season and by the way he'l be decisive in the Euro 2008, who knows with this player maybe Top scorer for the Euro also...
Posted 06:05 25th January 2008
Kevin Mc bride (Manchester United fan) says...
Ronaldo will easily meet this quota. He is definately the best player in the world in my mind. He has everything that a player dreams about. He has an abundance of skill, speed, can tackle and is great in the air. Every year he has improved and what he has achieved this year thus far is nothing short of remarkable. He has adopted team play alot more into his game and can change a game in a matter of seconds. The scarey thing is that he is a winger and can still knock in goals every week as well as creating them. Going to see the FA C up match this weekend and he will definately be the highlight of the match for me. The most exciting player i have ever seen in my lifetime and is a pleasure to watch him put on a Manchester United each week
Posted 20:19 24th January 2008
George Chipala (Manchester United fan) says...
Oh Yes the lad is poised to score 30 or more. Imagine him scoring in each and every league game remaining in the league, cup games and champions league, he will beat the target.
Posted 09:30 24th January 2008
Gezim Bushati (Manchester United fan) says...
I think Ronaldo will score 23 goals in Premier League,and the others goals will come in Champions league and in FA Cup,he's a great palyer and I want him to play for life with Manchester United.
Posted 08:05 24th January 2008
Abhigyan Shrestha (Manchester United fan) says...
Being a winger and being able to score 23 goals so far and helping United to be at the top table proves that at the current stage, he is the probably the best player in the world. He's got amazing abilty in the air, gets in good crosses and makes assists, shoots good, probably can even beat Thierry Henry in a 100 meter sprint and most importantly the consistency he has on his game is just spectacular to watch. Nomatter how many people have criticised him in the past, he is proving them wrong with each and every game that he plays. With the rate he is going, I see him taking United to European glory and aswell as the premier league and the F A cup. I can bet that he will score at least 35 goals this season. Just wait and see.
Posted 06:29 24th January 2008
David Locke (Manchester United fan) says...
In all honesty, 30 league goals. 40 overall. I garuntee he will acheive it. Winning him all the acolades he won for last year. If united win the champions league also, i see him winning world player of the year also. Its a shame to hear his family are intent on him moving to real madrid and i think deep down he is too. 2 maybe 3 years of ronny blasting us to silverwear will be greatly appreciated, i cant see him staying for longer than that though. Although i can see when he begins to get tempted by the opportunity that SAF will offer him a massive pay rise. United for the treble most deffinetly. I still think we need another striker and some cover for left back. Should happen at the end of the season.
Posted 23:21 23rd January 2008
Chris Reeves (Manchester United fan) says...
Once again genius psychology by fergie he knows full well he'll be digging deep when ronny smashes in league goal number 30. If he gets 20 out of rooney we'll clean up BRING ON THE TREBLE
Posted 15:47 23rd January 2008