The King! Ronaldo's free-kick screamer hailed as the 'best ever' by Ferguson

Ronaldo scored his 26th and 27th of an already remarkable season last night and he deserves far more than the financial rewards that come with such an astonishing return for a player who, let us remember, remains a midfielder.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson again compared him to George Best in his programme notes, noting how rapidly he was closing in on the late, great Ulsterman's club record of 32 goals in a season for a winger. In that campaign(1967-68), Best was crowned European Footballer of the Year —and don't bet against Ronaldo emerging top of that particular poll as well.

On the evidence presented here he will sail past Best's long-standing mark. Probably in the space of another six or seven games given that he has reached 27 in just 28 appearances.

Like Best, he does offer so much more than goals and against Portsmouth he did more than simply secure the three points that take United back to the summit of the Barclays Premier League. He dazzled his audience with a breathtaking all-round performance, creating chances for others as well as demonstrating an ever-more clinical edge to his finishing. His goals were magnificent.

'That was probably the best free-kick I've ever hit,' he said. The best in the history of the Premier League, suggested Ferguson.

Ronaldo was not alone in entertaining a packed Old Trafford. This United side is a joy to watch. The passing, the movement, the telepathy that seems to exist not just between Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney but anyone who appears in red. Even when Ryan Giggs is rested and Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves spend the first 70-odd minutes on the bench before replacing Ron and Roon.

As well as making Portsmouth suffer, this was an emphatic response to Arsene Wenger's suggestion that last week's trip to Saudi Arabia would have a negative impact on United's results.

Which, in turn, Harry Redknapp will no doubt thank him for when he next runs into Arsenal's manager. 'It was difficult to watch,' said Joe Jordan, the Portsmouth first-team coach. 'We just couldn't do much about it.'

A Portsmouth side that is again punching above its weight under the careful guidance of Redknapp owed much to David James for preventing this from becoming a rout. He will not reflect too fondly on his 500th Premier League appearance but he was outstanding in front of England boss Fabio Capello.

'He's the best English goalkeeper around,' said Jordan. Against Ronaldo, though, there was little he could do — two goals in three first-half minutes leaving James exasperated. Ferguson might have said he had no desire to 'put pressure on the lad' when he dared compare Ronaldo to Best but he also said how much the young superstar thrives on such pressure — and so it quickly proved.

His first goal, after 10 minutes, came after a delightful one-two with Nani and was bumptious in its execution, Ronaldo slipping the ball through the legs of James as the former England goalkeeper tried to close down the angle.

The second then left those same legs rooted to the spot, so perfect was the brilliant free-kick he guided over the Portsmouth wall and squeezed inside the angle of bar and post.

Portsmouth offered little in response, too often resorting to reckless fouls in a desperate effort to stop United in their tracks. But not even such tactics could contain United when players like Paul Scholes were so effectively adding to Portsmouth's problems.

United were performing with so much composure and confidence, Patrice Evra even trying his luck with a shot that forced another fine save from James.

The fact that James was comfortably the visitors' best player was a measure of just how busy United were keeping him, as well as a measure of how cheaply Redknapp's side conceded possession.

Evra threatened again and so did Rio Ferdinand with a header that was cleared off the line. And when Edwin van der Sar launched a long kick forward, Rooney tried to make James look foolish by lifting the ball over his head. The athletic James recovered, however, sprinting back and catch the ball before it crossed his line.

Had Tevez and Giggs been involved, it could have been a lot worse for Portsmouth. That, though, would have been of little consolation to Redknapp when, as Jordan admitted, their team had not exactly done themselves 'justice'.

For Redknapp, the only comfort he could take is that he remains the manager of Portsmouth rather than of the Newcastle United side that performed so miserably at Arsenal the previous night. Every cloud, Harry. Every cloud.