Confusion as Ronaldo Fails to Pick Match Ball After He Scored Hat Trick Against Tottenham

• Cristiano Ronaldo staged an age-defying performance against Tottenham to steer Man United to a 3-2 win
• The United attacker was expected to collect the match ball having scored a treble as is the tradition
• However, he opted to walk straight down the tunnel after his heroics as he applauded supporters on his way out
• Ronaldo will be hoping to replicate the performance when the Red Devils take on Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League last 16

Cristiano Ronaldo left fans confused after he failed to pick the match ball after he netted a sensational hat-trick at Old Trafford to sink Tottenham Hotspur.

The returning forward was in the best form of his life against the north Londoners as he scored twice in the first half before he completed his treble with nine minutes left on the clock.

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Ronaldo bagged his opener in the 12th minute with a thunderous strike before adding to his tally in the 38th minute shortly after Harry Kane had found the net from the spot.

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United looked on course to drop points after Harry Maguire made it 2-2 for Spurs with an own goal, only for Ronaldo to save the day with a powerful header to earn the Red Devils the three points.

Having completed his hat-trick, it was expected the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would pick the match ball as is the tradition.

Ronaldo fails to collect match ball

The Portuguese chose to walk straight down the tunnel after the full time whistle as he applauded the ecstatic supporters.

However, the 37-year-old is understood to have asked a Man United staff to collect the match ball on his behalf.

His actions left a number of fans in shock, with many wondering why the forward did not bother collecting the ball.

One said:

"Bro ain’t even stress for the match ball."

A second noted:

"Ronaldo didn’t even bother to pick up the match ball. 59 hat tricks."

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Another joked:

"Ronaldo got too many match balls, didn't bother with his 59th today."

While a fourth added:

"Ronaldo ran down the tunnel without even going to get the match ball because jobs not finished."