Twice World Player of the Year Ronaldo, looked close to his best as he scored two goals against Verona to send Inter Milan back to the top of Serie A yesterday.

Christian Vieri put Inter ahead in the 18th minute and five minutes after the break Ronaldo rose at the back post to powerfully head home a Sergio Conceicao cross before adding the third three minutes later.

It was bad day, however, for AC Milan, whose captain Paolo Maldini was stretchered off with a knee injury in the 1-1 draw against Atalanta at Bergamo, amid fears he may have suffered ligament damage. Atalanta took the lead through former Milan defender Luigi Sala but Andriy Shevchenko equalised in the 58th minute.