Cristiano Ronaldo’s frustration this season at Juventus continued on Sunday as he saw Fikayo Tomori strip him of one of his Serie A records in AC Milan’s demolition job in Turin.
Tomori nodded in a third goal as Stefano Pioli’s side ran out 3-0 winners over Juve, putting a major dent in Ronaldo and Co’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The on-loan Chelsea defender reached a staggering height of eight feet and seven inches inside the Allianz Stadium to surpass Ronaldo’s record, which he set last season against Sampdoria.
Ronaldo, who is 6ft 2in tall, claimed the ‘greatest leap’ crown when he soared up to 8ft 5in against Sampdoria at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium during the 2019-20 campaign.
While that header left Europe stunned, Tomori, who stands at 6ft 1in, has now gone even higher as he towered above Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini to score from a height of 8ft 7in on Sunday
Hakan Calhanoglu’s free-kick was swung in with venom towards Tomori, and his centre back partner Simon Kjaer, and it was the 23-year-old who jumped highest to meet the delivery and head the ball into the bottom corner.
Tomori’s goal in Turin, while his first for Milan since arriving on loan, also saw him become the first Englishman since David Beckham to score for the Rossoneri.
Beckham turned out for Milan in a loan spell of his own in 2009 where he went on to score two goals.
Tomori’s contribution against Juventus added to earlier goals from Brahim Diaz and Ante Rebic as Pioli’s squad look to close out a top four spot with three games remaining.
Come the end of the campaign attentions off the pitch in Milan will turn to signing Tomori on a permanent deal after an impressive loan spell since arriving in January.
Tomori has an option in his current deal to sign permanently at the San Siro for £25million and boss Pioli is keen to take up the offer.
He said: ‘We want to buy Tomori on a permanent deal from Chelsea. Our intention is clear and also Fikayo’s decision (staying at Milan).
‘We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.’