United did not disappoint as Tour star Ronaldo came back from injury with a shot, striking home superbly from 25 yards and adding another after Harry Kane equalized from the spot.

The hosts were looking down the barrel of an unwanted draw after Harry Maguire’s own goal, only for the 37-year-old to go over the top to head home a corner and send Old Trafford wild.

Ronaldo looked back on the years on Saturday in front of another sports giant who has shown incredible longevity, watching NFL great Tom Brady cheer in amazement after his long-range opener.

One of the former quarterback’s biggest fans equalized for Tottenham as Kane kicked home a penalty, but United came on at half-time after Ronaldo netted his second.

An own goal from skipper Maguire stunned Old Trafford but Ronaldo would not be stopped on his return from the hip flexor problem that ruled him out of the humiliating defeat at Manchester City as he completed his hat-trick.

There was a guttural roar at the end of a match that was played intensely and messy from the start.

United faced Covid testing confusion in the build-up but looked brilliant from the start, albeit shaky when Spurs attacked from the flanks.

Ronaldo saw penalty appeals dismissed when an early shot hit Eric Dier’s hand, but soon he would be celebrating a spectacular opener.

Fred smartly kicked in a pass from Raphael Varane in what had been a patient attack until the veteran picked up the ball and fired a superb strike from 25 yards past Hugo Lloris in the 12th minute.

Old Trafford were rocking and Paul Pogba sent in a curling effort leaping just wide of the Spurs goal as they pushed for a quick second.

The game was not one-sided, however. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sent a shot to David De Gea’s throat and the offside flag saved United when Son Heung-min slotted in Ben Davies to score late with a fine, flowing move.

The game was back and forth as Ronaldo eyed a wide header before Diogo Dalot cleared Dier’s header attempt from a corner off the line.

Spurs’ pressure paid off as half-time approached, with January’s impressive acquisition Dejan Kulusevski passing Jadon Sancho and firing in a cross that Alex Telles handled.

Referee Jon Moss pointed the spot and Kane kicked the penalty out of De Gea’s reach in the 35th minute – but Spurs would only be tied for three minutes.

Nemanja Matic put Sancho behind the Spurs backline and he crossed for Ronaldo to pass Lloris as the visitors called for offside. VAR checked and Sergio Reguilon had played Sancho in the build-up.

Spurs pushed for another equalizer before half-time, with a similar pattern of play continuing into the second half.

Reguilon clipped a cross from Sancho on a quick United break and Son headed wide at the other end from a clever pass from Kulusevski.

Ronaldo forced Lloris into action from a sharp angle but Spurs pushed them back a second time.

Conte’s men had looked dangerous down the flanks all evening and Reguilon’s cross was headed past his own goalkeeper by United skipper Maguire with Cristian Romero hidden behind him in an offside position.

The Argentina international appeared to urge Maguire after the leveling but wasn’t happy for long.

Ronaldo, who had seen another snap recorded, swung away from Romero and leapt over Matt Doherty to meet a Telles corner with a thunderous header past the Stretford End.

That 81st-minute goal proved decisive and defender Victor Lindelof immediately replaced the man of the match as United held three vital points.