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Cristiano Ronaldo: CR7's five greatest Champions League nights


Cristiano Ronaldo put on yet another Champions League masterclass with a jaw-dropping hat-trick as Juventus overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit against Atletico Madrid to qualify for the quarter finals.

The Portuguese superstar scored two stunning headers either side of half time before wrapping up his treble with a late penalty to send i bianconeri into the last eight with a 3-2 aggregate win.

Ronaldo has now scored a record extending 124 goals in the competition, keeping him ahead of Lionel Messi on 106. The forward also equalled his old rival’s record of eight Champions League hat tricks with his haul against Atletico.

For Ronaldo, this latest incredible display is far from the first time he’s stolen the headlines in Europe’s Premier Cup competition.

Arsenal 2009

Ronaldo put Arsenal to the sword in the 2009 Champions League semi finals. (Credit: Getty Images)
Ronaldo put Arsenal to the sword in the 2009 Champions League semi finals. (Credit: Getty Images)

Following the win over Chelsea in Moscow the previous year, Manchester United were looking for back-to-back European titles in 2009 when they came up against Premier League adversaries Arsenal in the semi final.

After Ji Sung Park gave them an early lead to settle any nerves and extend a 1-0 first leg lead, Ronaldo then took centre stage, firing an outstanding long range free kick past a despairing Manuel Almunia to effectively make the tie safe.

As Arsenal desperately pressed trying to find a way back into the game, United caught the Gunners with a scintillating counter attack and Ronaldo swept home to send United to the final in Rome.

Bayern 2017

Ronaldo heads home against Bayern Munich in 2017. (Credit: Getty Images)
Ronaldo heads home against Bayern Munich in 2017. (Credit: Getty Images)

Ronaldo put Bayern Munich to the sword while playing for Real Madrid with five goals across a 2017 quarter final.

Facing a difficult trip to Germany for the first leg, Real found themselves behind thanks to a Arturo Vidal’s thumping first-half header.

However a second-half brace from Ronaldo turned the tie on its head and gave Zinedine Zidane’s team the advantage going into the home game.

Bayern didn’t lie down and managed to force extra time at the Bernabeu. But the five time Ballon d’Or winner was the difference once again with an impressive hat-trick to seal a 6-3 aggregate win.

Atletico 2017

For both Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo has haunted Atletico Madrid. (Credit: Getty Images)
For both Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo has haunted Atletico Madrid. (Credit: Getty Images)

Atletico must be sick of the sight of Ronaldo. The forward played a star role in breaking their hearts in both the 2014 and 2016 finals, as well as this imperious performance in the first leg of the 2017 semi.

Diego Simeone’s gameplan of keeping things tight and frustrating Real came undone early on as Ronaldo powered home a header after eight minutes.

Ronaldo then blasted home a fantastic second after the break before a simple finish sealed his second Champions League hat trick in as many games, all but securing safe passage to the final in Cardiff…

Juventus 2017

Ronaldo scored twice as Real beat Juve 4-1 in the 2017 final. (Credit: Getty Images)
Ronaldo scored twice as Real beat Juve 4-1 in the 2017 final. (Credit: Getty Images)

Perhaps unfairly, and perhaps due to the ridiculous high standards he sets, Ronaldo might have been accused of underperforming in Real’s previous two Champions League final wins.

There was no chance of that being the case at the Millenium Stadium as CR7 almost single-handedly tore Juventus to shreds as Real made it three wins in four finals to wrap up their 12th title.

Ronaldo opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from the edge of the penalty area before his close range finish to make it 3-1 effectively sealed victory in the second half.

Real added another late on and, while the 4-1 scoreline made the result seem straightforward, it would have been a far closer game without Ronaldo in this kind of form.

Juventus 2018

The overhead kick scored by Ronaldo against Juve in 2018 instantly went down as one of the greatest goals of all time. (Credit: Getty Images)
The overhead kick scored by Ronaldo against Juve in 2018 instantly went down as one of the greatest goals of all time. (Credit: Getty Images)

Another day, another Ronaldo brace against Juventus.

The Italian giants were looking to avenge that defeat as they welcomed their conquerors to Turin for the first leg of the 2018 quarter final, but their hopes were dashed within two minutes as Ronaldo stabbed home to give Real the early lead.

Of course, that goal is barely remembered given what followed.

As Juventus fought to get back into the game, Ronaldo once again put paid to any ideas of a fightback with a sensational overhead kick that left legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon rooted to the spot as it rifled into the top corner.

It was a goal so brilliant it even drew the applause of the Juventus fans in attendance.

As we know, that wasn’t to be the last goal he would score at Juve’s Allianz Stadium.