Cristiano Ronaldo really is inevitable, isn't he?

Just when you think the 37-year-old is entering a period of terminal decline, he comes up with a performance befitting of an all-time great in their prime.

That's exactly what happened on Saturday evening, with Ronaldo scoring one of his best ever hat-tricks to secure a 3-2 win for Manchester United over Tottenham Hotspur.

It really was vintage Ronaldo at Old Trafford. His first goal was a sublime effort from distance and he struck again before the half-time interval with a classy finish from close-range.

But a Harry Maguire own goal made it 2-2 going into the final 10 minutes and things looked a bit bleak for a seemingly deflated United side.

Spurs' Cristian Romero even tried to rub salt in the wounds of the United captain straight after he put the ball into his own net.

Video: Romero winds up Maguire after own goal

The Argentine defender screamed in Maguire's face as he sat on the floor in despair, but it was the Englishman who'd have the last laugh thanks to Ronaldo.

In the 81st-minute of proceedings, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner met Alex Telles' with a thumping header to put United 3-2 up and who was at fault? None other than Romero.

The Spurs centre-back was left bamboozled by Ronaldo's leap and could only watch on as the ball flew past a helpless Hugo Lloris.

Video: Ronaldo out jumps Romero to score winner for Man Utd

Fan reaction

Now that is karma!

No one in the world will have enjoyed Ronaldo's winner more than Maguire, that's for sure.

Roy Keane and Michael Dawson in the Sky Sports studio were not at all pleased with Romero's unnecessary actions towards the United captain.

"Not good, no,” Keane replied when asked about the incident. “Not good, getting all up for that. You remember. When you’re a player, you take note of that, don’t worry.”

Ronaldo MASTERCLASS & HATTRICK! Manchester United 3-2 Tottenham (Football Terrace)

Dawson added: "It comes back to haunt you. Certainly as a defender, you make mistakes, things like that don’t go right. It could be you next week.”

Maybe Romero will think twice before he attempts some s***housery in the near future...

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