Remember those kids at school who were good at everything, who represented the county at football, cricket, athletics, chess and country dancing?

Well watching Cristiano Ronaldo parade his incomparable box of skills reminds me of the injustice of it all. Why couldn’t those seemingly-unconnected schoolboy talents have been shared around more fairly?

I have been lucky enough to attend five World Cups, three European championships, a stack of European finals and any number of other top international and club matches over the past 30 years but never have I seen anyone who delivers the sheer pleasure of the Portugal winger.

His hat-trick in Manchester United’s 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle United on Saturday was sublime. 

Many before him have had sumptuous ball skills, though I cannot personally recall anyone to match his foot-to-ball glue, but none have complemented those skills with terrific pace, great dead-ball delivery, accurate and visionary passing and an eye for goal that shames many top strikers in comparison.

He’s not the strongest tackler in the game but is not afraid to get stuck in, while he is probably the best header of a ball in the Premier League, which it seems to me is just plain greedy.

To cap it all, women swoon at his good looks and tune in just on the off-chance he might again peel off his shirt during one of his many goal celebrations. True, he remains a diver at heart and in deed but he is not as bad as he was and doesn’t turn 23 until next month, so there is still plenty of time to mature in that department.

He is the one player in the world I would gladly pay money to watch, and for a professional sports reporter, that’s saying something.

For a statistical look at Ronaldo, please see my colleague Padraic’s blog, where you can also leave your comments.

Mitch Phillips, London