Raphael Guerreiro admits compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo has never been better

Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying “the best spell of his career” after netting 15 goals in Portugal’s successful World Cup qualifying campaign, teammate Raphael Guerreiro has said.

The Real Madrid ‘Galatico’ scored nearly half of his country’s 32 goals but failed to find the net in their 2-0 win over Switzerland on Tuesday that ensured the European champions finished top of the group ahead of their opponents.

And Guerreiro who plays as a left back but also as a left midfielder for Borussia Dortmund told SFR Sport that the former Manchester United forward had never been in better form, saying: “You see what he gives on the pitch — he runs himself into the ground for the team. So of course he’s someone we rely on.

“I think he’s in the best spell of his career. He’s been really at the top in the last two years and he keeps going, but that’s normal because he works at what he does on the pitch.

“I’m not at all surprised by what he can still do today.”

Ronaldo would have joined Poland’s Robert Lewandowski on a record-breaking 16 goals in World Cup qualifying but that became impossible for a brilliant Yann Sommer save late in Tuesday’s match in Lisbon.

Ronaldo has record of 79 goals in 147 international matches to his name, and Guerreiro pointed to his compatriot in Saturday’s win over Andorra, in which he made the breakthrough after coming off the bench.

“Even though it wasn’t his best game, he managed to break the deadlock and gave the players confidence,” Guerreiro said.

“He’s the most important player in the team, and he gives extra confidence to the others.”