Ronaldo has been in a league of his own in terms of Champions League scoring in the past three years and already has 13 goals in nine matches this season. PHOTO: AFP
Ronaldo became the first player to score in 10 consecutive Champions League games after just as Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals in Turin, but it was his second goal that everybody will remember.
The Portuguese superstar surpassed himself with a breathtaking overhead hit from inside the box to help put holders Real Madrid closer to the semi-finals.
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"One of the most beautiful goals in the history of football," said Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
It took him only two minutes and 47 seconds to open the scoring in Turin, flicking in Isco's cross.
But the jeers of the home fans turned to applause and earned him a standing ovation after 64 minutes when Dani Carvajal crossed back into the area where Ronaldo connected with an outrageous bicycle kick.
Ronaldo responded by putting his hand to his heart and giving a slight bow of gratitude to the crowd. "The applause for Cristiano says it all," said Carvajal.
"Cristiano does things sometimes that only he can do," said Zidane.
"It can be said that it is one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football. It's maybe not as beautiful as mine in Glasgow," joked Zidane of his goal against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 that gave Real their ninth Champions League title. "I'm the coach but I'm also a football fan, when I see something like that ... that's why Ronaldo is different from others because he can do that kind of thing. I'm happy for him and happy to have him on our team."
Ronaldo has been on a goalscoring streak of 19 goals in his last nine games for Real — 28 in 2018 — a feat which even Zidane has said makes him jealous.
He has now scored 16 goals in his past 10 Champions League games -- 14 goals this season and a double in last year's final against Juventus.
He holds the record for Champions League goals scored with 119.
"The Juventus fans applauded Ronaldo but also for his team," said Zidane. "It's beautiful. You don't see that everywhere."
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri admitted he was amazed by his ability to change his style of play in his thirties to adapt to losing some of his once-searing pace.
"I don't know if Ronaldo's goal is the best in football history, but it's really an extraordinary goal, you can only congratulate him on what he's doing at present," said Allegri. "The applause is a beautiful lesson from the Juventus fans to the whole world, football is a show, when you have 22 or 30 high level players and you see a shot like this one it's good to applaud."
The five-time world footballer of the year has now scored in his last six matches against veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, netting nine in total.
"We saw what Ronaldo is and always has been — a player of an extraordinary level who along with Leo Messi is achieving the greatest heights," said Buffon. "This means they can be compared to Maradona and Pele for the way they ultimately are able to decide matches and trophies won by their teams."
Other Juventus players were similarly in awe of the Portugal captain. "When you play against one of the best players in the world, like Cristiano Ronaldo, you need perfection, if you leave space he punishes you, and then he invented a goal that will remain in history. It's a pity that he did it to us," lamented defender Andrea Barzagli.
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