But during that month, Manchester United won just one match out of six, scrabbling to a 3-2 victory at home to bottom club Norwich thanks to Ronaldo’s treble. They were outclassed at Liverpool and beaten comfortably at Arsenal in their next two games.

Ronaldo was also named in the Premier League team of the year. Tottenham’s Heung-min Son, who didn’t make the cut, may have scored five more goals but Ronaldo’s 18 strikes won 14 points for his team, more than any other player.

His total goals across all competitions was 24, more than double his next-best team-mate Bruno Fernandes who scored 10.

United ended the season with back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Crystal Palace. Sixth and trophyless. It was their worst league performance in 32 years.

While his team floundered, Ronaldo – at 37, we shouldn’t forget – still found a way to make his mark.

The decisive late goals in the Champions League against Villarreal and Atalanta (twice) when his team flirted with a group stage exit. A man-of-the-match performance at Tottenham after a 5-0 drubbing at home to Liverpool.

A hat-trick against Spurs on the back of a 4-1 thrashing at Man City. A 100th Premier League goal in a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates when United missed a penalty Ronaldo passed up.