Patrice Evra has staunchly defended former club teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and called out one line of attack from the Manchester United legend’s fierce critics.
Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has shown little sign of slowing down in the final third after his season with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
The 39-year-old Portuguese forward capped off his 2023-24 campaign by breaking the Saudi Pro League scoring record in a single season.
Ronaldo took his goalscoring tally in the league to 35 in 31 appearances after his brace in the 4-2 Saudi Pro League win over Al Ittihad last month.
The Al Nassr superstar overtook Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 34 times in the league in the 2018-19 season, to clinch the record.
However, Abderrazak Hamdallah reached his aforementioned tally in four fewer matches than Al Nassr skipper Ronaldo played last season.
Ronaldo has been with his current side since 2023 after he made his second exit from Old Trafford in 2022.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had impressed in his first season back at United after he returned to the Premier League club in 2021.
But Ronaldo fell down the pecking order under manager Erik ten Hag before the United legend sat down for a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan in 2022.
The former United star pulled no punches towards Erik ten Hag – alongside many other issues – with his contract later terminated by mutual agreement.
Evra hits out at Ronaldo critics
Cristiano Ronaldo has turned his attention to this summer’s Euros after Portugal boss Roberto Martinez named him in his squad for the competition.
The Manchester United legend is set to play in his 11th international tournament with his country, with Portugal considered one of the favourites at Euro 2024.
Speaking on Ronaldo, Patrice Evra believes that his former United teammate’s critics need to “stop mentioning” his age as part of their criticism of him.
Evra claimed that he had a “nice chat” with Roberto Martinez, but he added the Portugal boss “trusts” Ronaldo and is “not questioning” the player’s age.
“First of all, age is just a number,” he said, as per the Deccan Herald.
“I think people need to stop mentioning age. If he’s there, it’s because he’s got the level.
“Cristiano definitely would like to win again that trophy. Roberto Martinez loved the team; I had a nice chat with him. Portugal have so many players and you can see Martinez trusts Cristiano.
“He’s not questioning Ronaldo’s age or whatever, he’s just looking at his form and he’s going to score.
“So, it’s more an advantage than a disadvantage. I really don’t understand why people question his age or whatever.
“I think he scored 52 goals [49 actually] in 52 games [47 actually] in the Saudi League.”
Evra makes Ronaldo ‘GOAT’ claim
Ronaldo has not hinted that Euro 2024 could be his final tournament for Portugal, with the former United star retaining the captain’s armband under Roberto Martinez.
The Portugal international would be 41 years old by the time of the next World Cup, which is set to take place in Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2026.
Evra dismissed the criticism around the standard of the Saudi Pro League by pointing to the struggles of other players like former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
The 43-year-old former United defender added that ex-Juventus star Ronaldo has “stayed the GOAT” and “will be the GOAT again” in his eyes.
“People say, yeah, the Saudi League is not the same level,” Evra said.
“Players like Benzema or whatever, they struggled in this league. So, when people talk and they not even play one game in that league.
“So, Cristiano Ronaldo stayed the GOAT and he will be the GOAT again.”