5 most important goals in Cristiano Ronaldo's career

729 career apps, 531 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo has hardly found it tough to find the back of the net throughout his career. However, a key feature of his game is that he has been able to score crucial goals in important matches, goals that have helped his team win trophies. Therefore, there are plenty of goals to choose from when it comes to Ronaldo’s most important goals throughout his career.

Here are the five most important goals:

---

#5 Vs Wales, Euro 2016 semi-final

Although Ronaldo played only a few minutes of the Euro 2016 final due to injury, that did not mean he didn’t play an important part in winning his first trophy with his country last year.

In the group stages, Portugal struggled, but Ronaldo scored two in three games, as they scraped through to the last 16. He was unable to score in either the last 16 or the quarter-final, but in the semi-final, he came up with the all-important goal to essentially knock out Wales, who were at that point the most confident team in the whole tournament, having overachieved.

The first half of the game was tight and goalless, with neither team having any clear-cut chances. But, Ronaldo brought the game to life, powering in a header after the ball was crossed in from the left-hand side.

The Welsh defence were handling him well right up until that moment, showing that he needs just one opportunity and he will grab it with both hands.

He would then go on to set up Portugal’s second, as Nani deflected in his shot on goal. His goal was so crucial, as it meant Wales had to then come out of their defensive block, and led to Portugal scoring again so easily. Most importantly, it led to his nation winning the European Championships.

#4 Vs Wolfsburg, Champions League quarter-final 2016

Ronaldo put in a magnificent performance and single-handedly got his team through to the semi-finals

Madrid were 2-0 down heading into their second leg with Wolfsburg and had a mountain to climb, even at home. Wolfsburg, with Real having to come full throttle at them, had chances on the counter-attack. However, the night was to be Ronaldo’s, unsurprisingly.

He opened the scoring as a deflected Dani Carvajal cross made its way through to him, before he scored again soon after with a header from a corner. Madrid had already levelled things up, and they had their star man to thank once again.

Then he finished off a perfect evening, as you would expect him to. Madrid earned a free-kick around 25 yards out, and the only man was going to take it. On his hat-trick, he stood over it, staring down the wall and the goalkeeper, picking his spot, before unleashing an effort which would go through the wall and bounce into the net.

This goal was so vital, as it led to them getting through the semi-final and winning the Champions League for the second time in three years, the first time under Zinedine Zidane’s management.

That night will be one Ronaldo will never forget, as it was a glorious hat-trick which helped overcome the deficit, even at that early stage in the competition.

#3 Vs Millwall, 2004 FA Cup Final

Ronaldo heads in Manchester United's opening goal in the 2004 FA Cup Final

19 years of age and still in his first season as a Manchester United player, Ronaldo was already starting in a final for the Red Devils.

The FA Cup Final in 2004 was expected to be a walk in the park for Manchester United, with Millwall being a Championship side. However, throughout the first half, they looked to have coped with United well and were defending brilliantly. That was all until the 44th minute when Ronaldo burst in at the back post and headed in to give United the lead on the brink of half-time.

Gary Neville received the ball wide, cut inside, floated the ball to the back post, where Ronaldo would beat wise to the ball and head the ball in with power, meeting it at full speed. He then wheeled away celebrating, ripping his shirt off almost instantly, showing how important the goal for him, especially at that early stage of his career.

Although the Red Devils would have almost certainly one without Ronaldo’s opener, his goal was crucial for two reasons. Firstly, it broke the deadlock in a match where they were having chances but struggling to break down a well-organised defence. Secondly, because it would be the first crucial goal of his career, and boost his confidence at that early stage in his career.

#2 Vs Barcelona, 2012 La Liga

Ronaldo calmly celebrated a very important goal in the La Liga title race

Ronaldo has only won two La Liga titles in his eight-year spell in Spain, so he’s likely to remember every step of the way towards his first title, which included a crucial winning goal against Barcelona that helped him close in on his first La Liga winners medal.

Barcelona had just equalised through Alexis Sanchez and had hopes of winning the game to re-ignite the title debate. That was all until Ronaldo struck and dealt a killer blow to Barca, as well as winding up the home faithful with a celebration telling them to calm down.

After receiving a delightful through ball from Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo still had lots to do. Victor Valdes came out and closed the angle, which Ronaldo would then make even cuter as he knocked the ball round the keeper, before firing into an empty net. The goal silenced the home fans, especially as it came just three minutes after Sanchez’s equaliser.

For two successive seasons, Ronaldo had seen his side finish behind Barcelona as runners-up in La Liga. On both occasions, they were within four points of the title, but the team from Catalonia edged it. Now it was time for the Portuguese international to enjoy winning a league title for the first time at Madrid.

It was a very important goal in the title race, effectively sealing it for a Real Madrid team managed by Jose Mourinho.

You can watch the goal here

#1 Vs Juventus, 2017 Champions League Final

Ronaldo's second goal in the final would help clinch him his fourth Champions League winners medal

At the beginning of last season, many people were questioning Ronaldo and were suggesting Messi would win back the Ballon d'Or as the Portuguese international had lost some pace and wasn’t as good as the Argentinian.

However, as Ronaldo often does, he proved the critics wrong. Firstly he scored a hat-trick against Bayern Munich, albeit with the one goal being in extra time, before scoring a hat-trick again at home to Atletico in the semi-final. There were then no questions about the ability of the forward, who was now operating as a striker in a new system starting last season.

He had come alive as a striker, scoring more goals than before, and did so again in another important game, the Champions League Final against Juventus in May.

He opened the scoring, guiding the ball in after Carvajal’s cut back found him free in the box, but after a stupendous goal from Mario Mandzukic, the game was level at half-time. Shortly into the second half, Casemiro gave Real Madrid the lead again, but the most important goal, sealing another Champions League trophy, was to be Ronaldo’s goal to make it 3-1, ending Juventus’ chances of a comeback.

Making a fantastic run to the near post, Luka Modric dug out a cross to find him, which he swept past Gianluigi Buffon, sending the Madrid fans ballistic. It was without question one of the most important goals in his career.