Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for September 2021 after making an instant impact on his return to Manchester United.
The Portuguese scored three goals in as many Premier League matches after re-joining Man Utd from Juventus.
"Proud to be elected Player of the Month among so many great players in the Premier League,” Ronaldo said on the club's official website.
“Thanks to all my team-mates at Man Utd, couldn’t have done it without them. Let’s keep working hard and the results will come!”
Record gap
It is Ronaldo's fifth Player of the Month award, having won three successive league titles in his first spell at Old Trafford before leaving for Real Madrid in July 2009, and it is his first since March 2008.
That gap of more than 13 years between Player of the Month prizes is the longest in Premier League history.
3️⃣ 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀
— EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) October 8, 2021
3️⃣ 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀
Cristiano Ronaldo is September's @premierleague #POTM#FIFA22 #PoweredByFootball pic.twitter.com/zE2l8cYt9o
Ronaldo enjoyed a dream first appearance on his return to the club, scoring two goals in the 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United.
He also netted the opening goal as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team came from behind to win 2-1 at West Ham United.
The Man Utd forward topped a six-man shortlist that also included Joao Cancelo, Antonio Rudiger, Allan Saint-Maximin, Mohamed Salah and Ismaila Sarr.
2021/22 EA SPORTS Players of the Month
August: Michail Antonio (WHU)
September: Cristiano Ronaldo (MUN)
October: Mohamed Salah (LIV)
November: Trent Alexander-Arnold (LIV)
December: Raheem Sterling (MCI)
January: David De Gea (MUN)
February: Joel Matip (LIV)
March: Harry Kane (TOT)
Also in this series
Part 2: Arteta named September's Barclays Manager of the Month
Part 3: Townsend claims September's Budweiser Goal of the Month
Part 4: Townsend: Burnley goal a close second among my award winners!
