ROME - Paul Scholes has named Cristiano Ronaldo as his best ever team-mate in a glorious 14-year career at Manchester United.
It is a remarkable tribute to the Portugal winger, who is looking to improve on his 35-goal tally against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Scholes has played alongside the likes of Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Mark Hughes and David Beckham, not to mention the evergreen Ryan Giggs, collecting seven Premier League winners medals in the process.
However, it is Ronaldo that gets the midfielder's vote as his top team-mate at Old Trafford.
Scholes, who is due to make his 99th Champions League appearance in Italy, said: "I have been quite lucky to have played with a lot of great players.
"Cristiano has to be at the top now, purely for what he has done this season.
"Scoring the amount of goals from his position has been nothing short of amazing.
"It is not just that, though, it is the way he makes chances and the threat he poses to other teams."
Ronaldo has not just reserved his scoring form for the domestic game either.
He has bagged six in seven Champions League matches heading into the quarter-final, first leg encounter.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking for Ronaldo to maintain his momentum as they go for glory at home and abroad.
Ferguson said: "You have to remember Cristiano has only just turned 23.
"We have seen a development in every part of his game in domestic football.
"That's why we are delighted to bring a player back to Rome who has made an incredible improvement in the last year.
"Cristiano's goalscoring performances have been a big advantage to us as we all know."
Ronaldo spends endless hours on the training ground, perfecting his craft.
"I have a technique of my own for taking free-kicks but I won't reveal it," he said in an interview in the official Champions League magazine.
"That would be giving a trump card to my opponents.
"But success or failure is directly related to to the position of the body, the way you run towards the ball and the position of your feet.
"At that moment I think only of the side of the net to aim for. I look at the ball, I look at the net, then shoot.
"Sometimes it ends well, other times not so well."
Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar looks set to return between the posts after missing the 4-0 victory against Aston Villa at the weekend with a groin strain.
Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick all travelled after coming off with knocks as United made it six straight league wins to keep a tight grip on top spot.
Ferguson, though, will monitor Carrick's fitness as he is still troubled by a slight hamstring strain.
Nani is ruled out as he has failed to recover from a thigh strain while Darren Fletcher (knee) and Louis Saha (hamstring) are also absent.
United took four points off Roma in the group stage, not to mention demolishing them 7-1 in the same competition last season.
However, Ferguson believes their opponents have grown in confidence in recent weeks.
Like United, Roma are in with a chance of securing the double of league and Champions League after disposing of Real Madrid.
Ferguson said: "The fact that they are second in the league and in with a chance of the title is a measure of their improvement.
"They are without question a much better team this year.
"It is an interesting tie as we will have played Roma six times in the space of a year.
"That's very unusual but the advantage is we have been here twice and know what the difficulties are. It is a terrific challenge for us.
"Form is important going into a match like this and we are very satisfied in that respect."
