MX23RW : Thursday, November 28 07:36:46| >> :600:491705:491705:
[monks data]
Portugal national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 16, 2012 at 8.45pm UK
 
Northern Ireland national football team

1-1

Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes: 'Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to peak'

Aaron Hughes believes that Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo could still get better as he prepares to mark the striker for Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes has admitted that he thinks Cristiano Ronaldo can still get better as he prepares to come up against the Portugal striker this week.

Ronaldo will win his 100th international cap against Michael O'Neill's side on Tuesday, searching for his 38th goal in Portugal colours.

Fulham centre-back Hughes has insisted that he is prepared to face the Real Madrid talisman and is well aware of the task at hand.

He told reporters: "I have played a handful of times against him but maybe he has gone another level since his days in the Premier League, and maybe he can go further.

"He has gone and become just as successful in Spain and maybe there's more to come from him. I don't think he has peaked, believe it or not. He is still going and appears to be getting better.

"The best players play at that level every single night whether it is the first game of the season, a windy night in November or the Champions League, it is just their way."

Ronaldo has 14 goals in just 11 club matches so far this season, including a brace at the Nou Camp in a memorable 2-2 draw against Barcelona.

ID:49892: cacheID:49892:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2323:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Michael O'Neill
Read Next:
Northern Ireland hit by injury crisis
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!