Cristiano Ronaldo in rarefied air as he joins pantheon of iconic performances

Matt Jones - Editor 12:43 05/04/2018
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  • The fans in the stands rose to their feet to acknowledge yet another superb Cristiano Ronaldo goal.

    Nothing strange about that, you may think. Except, those rising to their feet and applauding were the partisan Juventus supporters packed inside Allianz Stadium.

    The Old Lady faithful had just had their collective hearts ripped out by a footballing Don Juan who has caused many to break throughout his career.

    They cheered warmly despite the fact Ronaldo and Real Madrid had realistically, once again, put paid to their Champions League hopes – their dreams of European progress lying in tatters following a devastating 3-0 first-leg loss at home.

    Very rare is it for an away player to draw praise from the opposition fans but those draped in black and white proved they know and appreciate a fine footballer when they see one.

    Though rare, it is not unprecedented. Here we look at other occasions a sublime individual performance caused home fans to momentarily forget their allegiances.

    #1 Ronaldinho at the Santiago Bernabeu (Real Madrid v Barcelona – La Liga, November 2005)

    Who can forget the brilliant Brazilian’s masterclass for Barcelona at the home of their fiercest rivals. Only this time it was the Madrid fans applauding the other side’s player as Ronaldinho ruled El Clasico with a performance of bewitching beauty.

    Pulling the Madrid defenders about like rag dolls all evening, Ronaldinho confirmed his status as the greatest player on the planet at the time when he ghosted through the Madrid defence twice to score a brace.

    Initially he slalomed past Ivan Helguera and fired wide of Iker Casillas to make it 2-0 before his second and Barca’s third saw him leave a young Sergio Ramos for dead to slot home – the goal bringing the Bernabeu to its feet.

    Ronaldinho ripped Real Madrid apart in 2005.

    Ronaldinho ripped Real Madrid apart in 2005.

    #2 Ronaldo at Old Trafford (Manchester United v Real Madrid – Champions League, April 2003)

    The ‘original’ Ronaldo wasn’t bad in his pomp and when Madrid’s Galacticos arrived at Old Trafford in April 2003, the Brazilian striker lived up to his billing by putting on a clinic of world-class finishing.

    United earned a morale victory on the night, winning an entertaining game 4-3, but the Red Devils fans clapped rapturously following a devilishly devastating performance from the Brazilian, who scored a stunning hat-trick, when he was substituted.

    Ronaldo opened the scoring rifling in at Fabian Barthez’s near post from Guti’s superb pass. He tapped in to make it 2-1 after a superb Madrid move and saved his best for last to rocket in from 25 yards before heading off as Madrid progressed 6-5 on aggregate.

    Brazilian Ronaldo was rampant against the Red Devils.

    Brazilian Ronaldo was rampant against the Red Devils.

    #3 Alessandro Del Piero at the Bernabeu (Real Madrid v Juventus – Champions League, November 2008)

    The shoe was on the other foot for Madrid’s fans against the Bianconeri on this occasion, the Los Blancos faithful in concessionary mood when the outstanding Italian forward gave one of the greatest solo performances in history in the group stage of the Champions League.

    Juve defeated Madrid 2-0, thanks to a Del Piero masterclass. After scoring two long-range missiles, one with his left, the second a right-footed free-kick, the Italian walked off the pitch to a standing ovation from every corner of the giant stadium, clapping him off as if he were one of their own.

    Alessandro Del Piero was at his devastating best for Juve in Madrid.

    Alessandro Del Piero was at his devastating best for Juve in Madrid.

    #4 Lionel Messi at the Bernabeu (Real Madrid v Barcelona – La Liga, 2009)

    Back when Lionel Messi was just a rising star trying to make his way in the game, he showed everyone around the world exactly what to expect in years to come when he shone in a match where the La Liga title was supposed to be on the line, but merciless Barca blitzed their rivals 6-2.

    Messi scored twice and had a hand in two others. His brilliant chip played in Thierry Henry to make it 1-1 before he stabbed in for 3-1. It got embarrassing when he scored his second to make it 5-2 before Gerard Pique compounded Madrid’s misery.

    It was the first time the Bernabeu had got to its feet for Messi, but it certainly wasn’t the last time he broke their hearts.

    Lionel Messi was magical as Barca destroyed Madrid 6-2.

    Lionel Messi was magical as Barca destroyed Madrid 6-2.

    #5 Alfredo Di Stefano at the Bernabeu (Real Madrid v Millonarios – Friendly, March 1952)

    In 1952, during a tournament to celebrate Real Madrid’s 50th anniversary, the Bernabeu faithful got their first glimpse of future club legend Alfredo Di Stefano.

    Playing for Colombian outfit Millonarios at the time, Di Stefano put on a stirring display which had the Madridistas standing up and applauding the genius of the Blond Arrow – who fired in two goals in a 4-2 win.

    Despite famous foes Barcelona trying to hijack the deal, Di Stefano moved to Real a year later and went on to become one of their – and the world’s – best ever players.

    Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano with Diego Maradona.

    Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano with Diego Maradona.

    #6 Laurie Cunningham at Camp Nou (Barcelona v Real Madrid – La Liga, February 1980)

    Laurie Cunningham was the first English player to join Madrid when he completed a move from only slightly less heralded West Bromwich Albion in 1979.

    Although his Madrid career was constantly disrupted by injuries, Cunningham left a lasting impression on the Camp Nou crowd during an El Clasico encounter in his debut season in Spain.

    The ‘Black Pearl’ put in a shimmering display to help Madrid to a 2-0 win – crossing for Santillana to make it 2-0 – and the Englishman impressed the home fans so much that they all rose in unison as he departed the field.

    Laurie Cunningham was the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid.

    Laurie Cunningham was the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid.

    #7 Diego Maradona at the Bernabeu (Real Madrid v Barcelona – Copa De La Liga, June 1983)

    No football fan could fail to be mesmerised by the genius of Diego Maradona. Twenty five years ago, Madrid played host to the bitter rivals, led by the enigmatic Argentine.

    After 57 minutes, Barca were already leading 1-0 and El Mago was about to make things worse. The diminutive forward set off on a mazy run and dribbled past goalkeeper Agustin. But instead of putting the ball in the net straight away he stopped and put his foot on the ball, as Madrid defender Juan Jose memorably came sliding in an attempt to block the shot. Jose crashed into the post, before Maradona slotted home.

    Madrid fans were stunned and began applauding.

    #8 Thierry Henry at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland v Arsenal – Premier League, May 2003)

    What was remarkable about this standing ovation was that the Frenchman had managed to outshine Freddie Ljungberg, despite the Swede scoring a hat trick in a 4-0 win.

    But while Ljungberg went home with the match ball, Henry stole the headlines – and the Sunderland fans’ hearts – with a sublime exhibition when he was arguably at his very best.

    Henry scored and set up all three of his teammates’ strikes and, as Sunderland fans stared into the abyss of relegation, they still found appreciation to acknowledge the brilliance of their opponent.

    Thierry Henry congratulates hat-trick hero Freddie Ljungberg.

    Thierry Henry congratulates hat-trick hero Freddie Ljungberg.

    #9 Steven Gerrard at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea v Liverpool – Premier League, May 2015)

    There’s a lot of history between Gerrard and Chelsea. The former England and Liverpool captain was an inch away from joining the Jose Mourinho revolution at Stamford Bridge in 2005 but ultimately decided against it.

    Gerrard endeared himself to Blues fans when he slipped to gift Demba Ba a goal and Chelsea victory at Anfield in 2014 as Brendan Rodgers’ men threw away their best shot in years at a league title triumph.

    The following season – his final one for his boyhood club – after scoring the Reds’ equaliser in a 1-1 draw, the Reds colossus received a standing ovation by both sets of fans as he left the Stamford Bridge pitch for the final time when substituted late on.

    Steven Gerrard receives a standing ovation from Chelsea fans during his last season at Liverpool.

    Steven Gerrard receives a standing ovation from Chelsea fans during his last season at Liverpool.

    #10 Andres Iniesta at Estadi Cornella-El Prat (Espanyol v Barcelona – La Liga, December 2010)

    The lesser known team from Barcelona were losing 5-1 to their illustrious rivals but the entire stadium rose to their feet to applaud Iniesta, as did the home players, when he was subbed off five minutes from time in this game.

    This was to do with more than football. A few months earlier in the World Cup final, Iniesta had scored the winner for Spain and unveiled a message to the late Espanyol defender Dani Jarque who had died suddenly the year before.

    His emotional send-off at Barca’s arch rivals proved how much his message meant to those fans.

    Andres Iniesta is applauded off by Espanyol fans.

    Andres Iniesta is applauded off by Espanyol fans.

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