On this day in 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first of his 56 senior career hat-tricks - and his only one for Manchester United - against Newcastle in a Premier League match.
Ronaldo's free-kick broke the deadlock after 49 minutes and Carlos Tevez quickly tapped in a second. Ronaldo capped a stunning four-man move for the third and Rio Ferdinand volleyed in a fourth after 85 minutes.
He sealed his treble via a deflection, and Newcastle's Alan Smith saw red for dissent after Tevez's disputed sixth.
2008 would be an epic year for Ronaldo. As well as winning four trophies with United, he also lifted the Ballon d’Or, the Fifa World Player of the Year, Uefa Club Footballer of the Year, the European Golden Shoe, the Champions League best forward and top scorer accolades, the Premier League Golden Boot, the PFA Player of the Year, the FWA Player of the Year, the Manchester United Fans’ Player of the Year, the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year, plus the United Players' Player of the Year award.
And now, after 12 years, the Juventus star has already scored 56 hat-tricks in hia career.
