WE should have known he’d come up with something special to mark his place in the record books.
When has Cristiano Ronaldo ever done anything on the same lines as other mere mortals?
The night he edged clear of Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas on 178 Champions League appearances, more than anyone in this competition’s glorious history.
And the night he waited until deep into the final minute of stoppage time to turn an instantly forgettable evening into one those here at Old Trafford will always remember.
Okay, nothing like the prize on offer the last time he pulled on a red shirt in the Champions League at this ground, but boy, certainly as dramatic as most of the rest.
Seconds left, a game when his one sniff of a goal had been a way over the top header from barely six yards out and there it was, suddenly, staring him in the face.
A deep cross from Fred, a nod back from Ronaldo, a stretched boot by Jesse Lingard… and there he was, bang in front of keeper Geronimo Rulli and the goal gaping.
Yes, yes, yes, no prizes for guessing what came next. A drilled finish, the ball in the back of the net off Rulli’s hand, and Ronaldo racing to the touchline tearing his shirt off.
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Booked, of course, but did he care? Did the vast majority of those inside this most famous of stadiums give a monkey’s? Did they hell.
Oh, and just for good measure it stretched his all-time Champions League goalscoring record to 136 as well.
All a million miles away, too, from all that had gone before.
For up to that point the only thing of note was a hugely comedic moment with fellow 36-year-old Raul Albiol.
The Villarreal veteran was booked for grabbing him round the waist to ensure he went no further as he raced away. Rather like two pensioners fighting for the last seat on the bus.
Talking of going no further, at that point, indeed for huge chunks of the game, you wouldn’t have stuck much on Ronaldo going much further than the group stages in this year’s comepetition either.
Everyone knew that flying start he made had to come to a halt at some stage. As he toiled against the Spaniards, though, it seemed to have come a little earlier than we all expected.
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Especially on the back of a pretty toothless performance – although then again the whole United team was – against Aston Villa on Saturday.
You wouldn’t have stuck a brass farthing on what was to come. Another last gasp Champions League winner, another headline act from you know who.
And another night of United fans pouring out in delighted glee as their favourite chant of Viva Ronaldo echoed into the Manchester air.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
