We have run out of superlatives to describe the goal-scoring prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, to say that he is a machine would be an understatement at this point.The all-time top scorer for Real Madrid is also the all-time top-scorer in the history of the Champions League. The Portuguese superstar now has 51 goals in his kitty, becoming the first person to score 50 or more goals for six seasons in a row, the highest number of goals scored in a single Champions League campaign (17).
It is fair to say that Ronaldo is a sporting behemoth and is duly considered the best player of this generation and one of the greatest of all time together with his eternal rival Lionel Messi.
Unfairly criticized?
But a lot of times in the past the Portuguese has been criticized on various issues, from his “selfish attitude” on the pitch, to his arrogance and showboating and finally the perception that he doesn’t perform in big games.
Although some of it is true as Ronaldo did showboat with one step-over too many in his younger days at Manchester United, the man has totally matured into a much better player at Real Madrid, a view which a lot of football enthusiasts just don’t agree with.
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Let’s look at why this is true. First of all, I do agree that Ronaldo in his days at United, used to be a much more exciting player, taking defenders on, humiliating them with his repertoire of skills, scoring spectacular goals day in day out, especially from free-kicks. But at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has just gone on to develop a better footballing brain.
The CR7 of today
Cristiano Ronaldo in his early years at the Santiago Bernabeu would do all that and much more. But slowly and surely, the 31-year-old has matured significantly. He gets fewer cards than he used to, he provides more assists that he used to. This is what tells you that he also understands that it isn’t always the right option to carry the entire team on your back as football is a sport where one has to trust their team-mates, showing signs of selflessness.
Last season itself, Ronaldo recorded his best ever haul of assists in a season with 21 and has 15 so far in this one. Not bad for a selfish player you know.
Add to that the fact that he has stopped running at defenders and bamboozling them as he has understood his body. Ronaldo turned 31 just this February. He isn’t getting any younger which goes to show how much he has thought about his position in the team and how he can get the best out of himself despite losing some of his earlier speed and skill.
He has been much more efficient in his days with Los Blancos scoring goals left, right and centre. He has become much more direct, finishing off moves in the box, and finding himself at the ends of squared up passes which has led to his new found criticism of being a ‘tap-in specialist’. But even Ronaldo haters know that he is anything but that.
Ronaldo is Real
Finally, Ronaldo has always been a big match player, be it at United or Real Madrid, but has shown more consistency with Los Merengues. His El-Clasico record is a testament to this fact as the Real number seven has outscored even Messi since his world record move 16-15. He has always stood up when it mattered the most.
From scoring in the League Cup final, to the FA Cup final, the Champions League final(twice), to the Copa Del Rey final, the UEFA Super Cup and his winner against Barcelona to clinch La Liga for Real in 2011-12 ending the Blaugrana’s dominance, he also has the most number of semi-final and knockout goals in Champions League history.
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Take this season for example. Madrid’s season was on the line and Ronaldo stepped up to score an incredible hat-trick to turn the tie around and win the quarter-final against Wolfsburg 3-2 after a 0-2 first leg loss. His only visible weakness recently has been set-pieces as Ronaldo seems to have lost the knuckleball technique he mastered at United, missing a lot more than he used to before.
The bottom line is Atletico Madrid will be facing the most mature and smart version of Cristiano Ronaldo today, one who understands his limitations and utilizes his strengths to get the best out of himself. Ronaldo has never been better and if completely fit, could break his own Champions single season record and become the first man to net in three different finals. Don’t count against him doing so.
