TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Iran legend has sat at the top of a notable chart for several years, but he appears destined to be knocked from the summit by a modern-day great. Ali Daei “sincerely hopes” that Cristiano Ronaldo will break his international goalscoring record, with the Portuguese superstar just seven efforts short of the Iranian’s mark of 109.

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One was rugby-tackled to the ground by security staff; the other was forcibly held back. But the five-time world player of the year hung around and, with a broad smile, eventually gave them the selfie they craved.

Ronaldo certainly enjoyed his return to former club Manchester United on Tuesday.

Juventus, Ronaldo’s new team, beat United 1-0 for a third straight win in the Champions League, moving the Italian club to the brink of qualification just halfway through the group phase.

Unlike the last time he was at the stadium — for Real Madrid in 2013 — Ronaldo didn’t score but he was involved in the only goal, sending in a cross from the right wing that was eventually swept home by Paulo Dybala in the 17th minute.

Dangerous going forward and typically obdurate at the back, Juventus delivered a powerful performance that extended its unbeaten start to the season to 11 games and strengthened its status as one of the serious contenders for the Champions League — a competition it hasn’t won since 1996.

With Ronaldo leading the attack, this might be its best chance in years to end the drought.

“We played against one of the biggest — really biggest — candidates to win the Champions League,” said United manager Jose Mourinho, who was effusive in his praise for the Italian side.

Not just of Ronaldo, but especially of Juventus’ two dominant center backs.

“Mr. Bonucci and Mr. Chiellini could teach classes in Harvard on how to be a central defender,” Mourinho said.

This was another chastening loss — a fourth of the season — for United, highlighting the gulf between the heavyweights of the continent and what was once England’s top team. Juventus toyed with United at times, especially in the first half.

He was always going to be the focal point of this game anyway but attention grew even more in the wake of an allegation of rape against him in the United States. Kathryn Mayorga filed a civil lawsuit last month in Nevada claiming the Portuguese star raped her in his Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. Police also reopened an investigation into the allegation at her request. Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter S. Christiansen, issued a statement on Oct. 10 denying wrongdoing by his client.

Five years ago, Ronaldo was introduced as the “magnificent seven” when he came to Old Trafford — where he played for United from 2003-09 — with Madrid for a last-16 match in 2013. He was given a standing ovation by United fans that night and ended up scoring the winning goal to eliminate his former club from the Champions League.

On Tuesday, Ronaldo wasn’t given the big build-up by the stadium announcer as the team lineup was read out but his name was cheered loudly by home supporters. And a few minutes into the game, a fan came onto the playing surface from the Stretford End stand and got to within a few meters of Ronaldo at the other end of the field before being stopped by slow-reacting security.

As he lay on the ground, the fan stretched his arms toward Ronaldo, almost pleadingly.

Then came the incident involving the pitch invaders at the end of the match. Ronaldo was applauded by fans for giving them their selfie.

During the match, Ronaldo’s flicks, tricks and power were all on display as he switched from the left flank to a central position. However, Dybala was arguably the most impressive of Juventus’ attackers and the Argentina international grabbed the winner.

Ronaldo delivered a cross from the right wing, United defender Chris Smalling got in front of Juan Cuadrado at the near post to block the ball but it fell to Dybala, who converted from the edge of six-yard box.

United took a while to get going, having already arrived at the stadium later than planned because the team bus carrying the players got stuck in traffic around Old Trafford. The same thing happened before United’s last home group game, against Valencia, but this time kickoff didn’t need to be delayed.

Ronaldo had a free kick late in the first half batted away by United goalkeeper David De Gea, who then tipped over a fiercely struck shot from the Portugal forward soon after halftime.

United rallied in the final half hour, and Paul Pogba saw a curling shot hit the post before bouncing off goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to safety.

“What the players showed today,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, “was when to slow the game down, when to speed the game up.”

Juventus has nine points, five more than second-place United.

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The five-time Ballon d’Or winner joined the Serie A champions from Real Madrid on July 10 in a 100-million-euro deal but has yet to score his first competitive goal.

Juve have now won their opening two games after last weekend’s 3-2 success against Chievo in Verona.

Lazio — fifth last season in Serie A — have had their worst start to the season in over a decade following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at home against Napoli.

In the first home game for the seven-time defending champions, Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa started on the bench, with coach Massimiliano Allegri opting for Federico Bernardeschi and Mandzukic to spearhead the frontline with Ronaldo.

Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio had ended Juventus’s two-year unbeaten home Serie A run last year, but apart from a Luis Alberto shot after an hour they failed to threaten.

Germany international Sami Khedira rattled the woodwork after 19 minutes for the home side, with Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha diving to keep out a Bernardeschi angled drive.

But the hosts broke through on the half-hour when Mandzukic knocked down a cross for Pjanic to power a half-volley into the corner.

Lazio’s Marco Parolo missed a chance to equalise when his header flew over the bar just before the break.

Ronaldo came close after 63 minutes but headed just wide after connecting with a Joao Cancelo cross and again threatened on 71 minutes but Strakosha tipped over.

Cancelo then set up Ronaldo for what looked destined to be his first goal for his new club, but the Portuguese star failed to control the ball in front of goal and Mandzukic fired home.

It was the first time that Ronaldo has not scored at the Allianz Stadium, having found the net three times for Real Madrid against the Italians.

Ronaldo’s next chance for his first goal will come against promoted Parma next Saturday.

Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti faces an emotional home debut as Napoli coach against old club AC Milan later on Saturday.

Ancelotti spent most of his career at AC Milan with the 59-year-old winning three Serie A and four European titles as a player and coach with the northern giants.

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With the transfer window slamming shut in Italy at 19:00 GMT on Friday, Serie A teams have time to overtake the 1.037 billion euros spent last summer.

Here AFP Sport picks out six new signings to watch in the coming campaign.

CRISTIANO RONALDO (JUVENTUS)

Age: 33

Position: Forward

Previous club: Real Madrid (ESP)

— Reigning seven-time Italian champions Juventus had the biggest scoop of the summer in five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, who arrived from European champions Real Madrid in a shock 100 million euro ($117 million) deal. Massimiliano Allegri’s side are counting on the evergreen Portuguese superstar to help win the Champions League. Ronaldo has been the bogey man in Europe for Juventus in recent years, scoring 10 in seven games against the Serie A side for Real Madrid as the Spaniards romped to three straight Champions League titles. Ronaldo has thwarted Juve’s attempts to bag their first Champions League since 1996 in both of the last two seasons, earning a standing ovation from the Turin crowd for his superb overhead bicycle kick last season and scoring a brace in the 2017 final as Madrid thumped the Italians 4-1.

GONZALO HIGUAIN (AC MILAN)

Age: 30

Position: Striker

On loan from: Juventus (ITA)

Age: 31

Position: Centre-back

Previous club: AC Milan (ITA)

Age: 26

Position: Forward

Previous club: Bologna (ITA)

— The Italian international forward was one of Carlo Ancelotti’s first signings as Napoli coach coming in for 23 million euros despite the Serie A runners-up trailing behind their rivals in the transfer market spending. A versatile player Verdi scored ten goals last season for Bologna who he joined after Carpi were relegated in 2016, having also previous played for Torino and his boyhood club AC Milan.

JAVIER PASTORE (ROMA)

Age: 29

Position: Midfielder

Previous club: Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Age: 30

Position: Midfielder

Previous club: Roma (ESP)

— The controversial Belgium international, looking for a new challenge after being snubbed for the World Cup, links up again with former Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, as Inter look to improve on a fourth-place in Serie A and compete in the Champions League for the first time since 2011-12. “I think I had my best season under Spalletti and I hope to do just as well here,” said Nainggolan who arrives on a four-year contract worth 38 million euros. “I hope we can do well both in Serie A and the Champions League because Inter have a proud history. Hopefully we’ll get back to those heights again now.”

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“Brilliant save! You don’t see that often vs Cristiano;” this is among millions of tweets went viral after Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in a 1-1 draw with Portugal on Monday at Russia 2018 Woeld Cup.

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“I don’t want to talk too much, it’s about my country and a player. I know it’ll be a war against me,” said Queiroz, who coached his native Portugal at the 2010 World Cup.

“But the reality is you stopped the game for VAR, there is an elbow. An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn’t say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo…”

It was a busy evening for the video assistant referee in Saransk as two penalties were awarded upon review, on top of the Ronaldo altercation.

“We accepted human mistakes before, that was part of the game. Players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes and referees make mistakes,” said Queiroz.

“But now you have one system that cost a fortune. It’s high-tech with five, six people inside and what happens? Nobody takes responsibilities.

“We need to be like rugby. When there is a decision by VAR I need to know what the referee is saying to them, people need to know what is going on.”

“So in my opinion, Mr. Infantino and FIFA, everybody agreed that VAR is not going well,” he added. “That’s the reality, there’s a lot of complaints.”

Ricardo Quaresma struck a brilliant opening goal with a trademark curling effort using the outside of his right foot on the stroke of half-time.

Ronaldo had the chance to double the lead with a penalty five minutes into the second half after he was upended by Saeid Ezatolahi, but his effort was save by Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand.

– Ronaldo frustrated –

Portugal defender Cedric was then penalised in stoppage time for a handball, and Karim Ansarifard converted from the spot to give Iran a lifeline.

Mehdi Taremi nearly snatched a dramatic winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran were eliminated in agonising fashion.

Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure after failing to add to his four-goal tally at the Mordovia Arena, suffering the same penalty misfortune as Lionel Messi earlier in the competition.

“I understand, it’s normal. The best players in the world face that when there isn’t an opportunity to really make it happen,” said Portugal boss Fernando Santos.

“That hurts a lot more to them than to other players. They always want to win. They want to be the best and refuse to fail, and when they fail they get very upset.”

Santos said he thought the referee made the right decision in terms of the Ronaldo flashpoint.

“No I wasn’t concerned (about a red card), it seemed liked a normal thing in the match. The referee did what he had to do.

“He went to the VAR twice or three times, he considered two penalties and one yellow card. I’d have to watch it again to talk about it, but I think the VAR did its job.”

A late equaliser from Iago Aspas that earned Spain a 2-2 draw with Morocco pushed the European champions down into second place.

“To us what is important is to be in the last 16 and we want to carry on in this tournament,” Santos said.

“Uruguay have high quality and top-notch players. They’re excellent but Portugal are too and we’re going to try and find a way to win.”

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