Nani's Old Trafford record stands up to Cristiano Ronaldo's at same stage of career

Nani, appearing in his 100th league game for United, at the weekend, struck with the sort of fierce long range effort reminiscent of those scored by Ronaldo in his Old Trafford heyday.

The 24 year-old said: "For five years, every time the question is the same. It's all about Ronaldo. 'You have to be him'. 'Are you doing the same?' 'Do you think you can do it now?"

Yet comparisons between the pair are inevitable. Nani, like his compatriot, is both a creator and scorer of spectacular goals – 31 in 161 appearances since moving from Sporting Lisbon in 2007.

Furthermore, Ronaldo at the same stage of his Old Trafford career, had scored 19 league goals – the same as Nani.

However analysis suggests that Nani even has the edge in terms of creativity over the two players' opening spell at United, with 34 assists for Nani in that time compared to Ronaldo's 12.