Cristiano Ronaldo's troublesome right ankle injury returns to haunt Real Madrid legend

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  • Cristiano Ronaldo is dealing with an ankle injury.

    Cristiano Ronaldo is set to have a scan on Monday to determine the full extent of the right ankle injury he sustained during the first-half of the 2-2 draw against Barcelona at Camp Nou.

    The Los Blancos legend had to be substituted at the break by Zinedine Zidane after picking up the knock after equalising for Madrid in Catalonia.

    With the Champions League final against Liverpool only three weeks away and the World Cup looming large, the 33-year-old’s legion of fans are hoping it is not a serious problem. At first glance, and according to medical experts, it appears no more than a sprain but he has tweaked the same ankle joint that has troubled him in the past.

    Fortunately, over the years, Ronaldo hasn’t spent too much time on the treatment table during his remarkable career. But, here, we look at a few instances that have forced him to do just that.

    EURO 2016

    Famously, Ronaldo stood orchestrating orders on the touchline and barking out tactics alongside manager Fernando Santos as Portugal, against the odds, triumphed over France 1-0 in the Euro 2016 final.

    Ronaldo wasn’t on the pitch to finish the job in the showpiece himself due to an ill-timed (and possibly deliberate) challenge by Dimitri Payet early on. The then West Ham midfielder targeted Portugal’s hero, catching his knee with a hard follow through tackle when Ronaldo’s left leg was planted as he played the ball off.

    It was the kind of crunching challenge to end anyone’s match but Ronaldo tried to play on in discomfort before sinking to his knees in the 17th minute and then the tears came. He left the field for three minutes after medical attention, and then came back in the hope he could run it off. But, the injury was all too serious and he was forced to be substituted in the 25th minute.

    It was later revealed he had suffered a grade one anterior cruciate ligament sprain in his left knee and he was late starting that subsequent pre-season, beginning for Zidane’s men in mid-August.

    TOPSHOT - France's forward Dimitri Payet (R) crashes into Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo as France's defender Patrice Evra snatches the ball during the Euro 2016 final football match between France and Portugal at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on July 10, 2016. / AFP / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

    Ronaldo in pain following Payet’s tackle.

    OCTOBER 2009

    Ronaldo aggravated his ankle during Portugal’s World Cup qualifying win over Hungary and didn’t return until late November, having had a minor setback in his rehabilitation process. That stunted his initial impact at Los Blancos – forcing him to miss nine games, the most he has ever missed through injury for the club – having signed for the Spanish giants in a whirlwind deal from Manchester United earlier that summer.

    JULY 2008

    Following Euro 2008, Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery on his right ankle – an early indication that he had a problem in that area – and was ruled out for up to three months. This, along with a knee problem, meant he returned to action in late September for the Red Devils and did not get up to full speed until the following month.

    The surgery was a long time coming, given he had played through the pain barrier at the Austria-Switzerland tournament. He did, however, show no real signs of that injury when he helped United to Premier League and Champions League success in 2007-08.

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