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."

Fulham 3-0 Burnley - Hodgson
Fulham 3-0 Burnley - Laws
Man City 2-0 Bolton - Johnson and Vieira
Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland - Bruce
Wigan 1-1 Stoke - Martinez
Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland - James
Portsmouth 1-1 Sunderland - Grant
Wigan 1-1 Stoke - Scharner
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 10th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Arsenal vs Liverpool |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | West Ham vs Birmingham |
| 19:45 | Wolverhampton vs Tottenham |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Hull |
| 20:00 | Everton vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 16th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Man City |
| Wednesday 17th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Wigan vs Bolton |
| Saturday 20th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Everton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Chelsea |
| 17:30 | Portsmouth vs Stoke |
| Sunday 21st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 14:00 | Aston Villa vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Liverpool |
| 16:15 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| Monday 22nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Bolton |
| Tuesday 23rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs West Ham |
| Saturday 27th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Chelsea vs Man City |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Fulham 3 - 0 Burnley | |
| Sunday 7th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 2 - 1 Wolverhampton | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 1 - 0 Everton | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Stoke 3 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Wigan | |
| Man Utd 5 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Burnley 2 - 1 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Wednesday 3rd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 2nd February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 1 - 1 Chelsea | |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man City 2 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Arsenal 1 - 3 Man Utd | |
| Saturday 30th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 1 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 25 | 58 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 25 | 56 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 25 | 49 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 25 | 44 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 24 | 44 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 | 43 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 24 | 41 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 24 | 37 |
| 9 | Fulham | 26 | 34 |
| 10 | Everton | 24 | 32 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 24 | 30 |
| 12 | Blackburn Rovers | 25 | 28 |
| 13 | Sunderland | 25 | 26 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 24 | 24 |
| 15 | Hull City | 25 | 24 |
| 16 | Burnley | 25 | 23 |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 24 | 22 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 24 | 21 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 24 | 21 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 25 | 16 |
Barca had two men sent off, Robbie Keane scored for Celtic while FC Twente finally lost in Holland.
The Insider thinks Mansfield Town's novel idea could boost crowds higher up the football ladder.
A naive Arsenal slipped further out of the title race while Liverpool enjoyed a positive weekend.
Manchester City overcame Bolton, Portsmouth salvaged a late draw against Sunderland, Fulham saw off Burnley and Stoke held Wigan.
Avram Grant said his dismissal against Sunderland was a product of him 'having enough' of the club's difficulties.
Aruna Dindane salvaged a priceless point for troubled Portsmouth as they drew 1-1 with Sunderland.
Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a goal apiece as Man City overcame Bolton at Eastlands.
Fulham claim a comfortable 3-0 victory and extend Burney's woeful away run at Craven Cottage.
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