'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With the Champions League final just around the corner, both Real Madrid and Liverpool are gearing themselves up for this epic battle. While Real Madrid have the experience of playing in three finals in the last four seasons, Liverpool have been simply amazing with their breathtaking football.
The fabled trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have wreaked havoc against plenty of defenses over the course of the season. Meanwhile, the Galacticos might have come this far but their attack has been erratic throughout the season, with the exception of only one player.
Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese has been the most dominant force in Madrid’s progression to the final of the Champions League this season. Despite being 33, he is still Madrid’s most dangerous attacker and its best player of all time.
And here are 5 reasons why…
#5 Goals, goals and goals
As mentioned above, the Portugal captain has an uncanny ability to score goals from one-fourth of a chance. He might have started the season slowly but he steadily got into the groove and helped Madrid to where they are now.
So far this season, he has scored 41 goals from 39 games in the Champions League and La Liga. For a 33-year-old, those are just insane numbers. Meanwhile, his Real Madrid career is adorned with goals.
In 437 matches for the club, he has 450 goals and the way he is playing at the moment, he might as well finish with over 500 goals to his name at Real Madrid.
#4 Personal accolades
His goal-scoring feats have put him on the pedestal of personal glory many times. He has won it all on a personal level, beginning from the Golden Boot to the Ballon d'Or.
The former Manchester United star has been at the Bernabeu since 2009 and has won the Ballon d’Or four times in the process. He has won the FIFA’s Best Men Player’s award twice, UEFA Best Player in Europe award three times and is on a streak of five seasons of being the Champions League top scorer – which could be six after the conclusion of the final.
The former Sporting starlet’s personal accolades since joining Real Madrid are something that has him go…
#3 Past his predecessors
Back in the early days of the club, Ferenc Puskas and Alfredo di Stefano were the flag bearers that carried the club. While Puskas ended up with 242 goals from 262 games, di Stefano scored 308 goals from the 396 times that he represented the club.
It wasn’t until Raul Gonzalez when di Stefano’s record was broken. The Spanish legend scored 323 goals from 741 games and is still regarded by some as the best ever player of the club.
And Cristiano Ronaldo? As mentioned earlier, the Portuguese has 450 goals from 437 appearances and stands tall above the rest. It is not only just the goals that make him superior, but also his…
#2 Leadership
When he was younger, not many thought that he would have gone on to be a leader in his team. After all, how can you back someone to be a steward when he throws tantrums and sissy fits on the pitch?
However, as it turned out in the end, the man from Madeira became the first ever Portugal captain to lift a major trophy when his side won the Euro in 2016. For Madrid, he is a leader on the pitch, vehemently asking team-mates to buck up and inspiring them in the direst of times.
One of the important attributes that a Madrid player should possess is to be able to inspire his team to glory and Ronaldo has done that many a time.
#1 Sheer influence at the club
Cristiano Ronaldo came at a time when the club were suffering from a massive trophy draught along with having to swallow the fact that they were in the shadow of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona dream team.
Also read: 5 reasons why Liverpool are favourites over Real Madrid to win the Champions League
Madrid hadn’t won the Champions League trophy since 2002 and desperately needed to lay their hands on the honour they loved the most. Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso were the other stars signed alongside him.
However, none of them have been or were as influential as Cristiano – both in terms of longevity and impact. After 9 years of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Galacticos have three more Champions League title – and it could become four in a few days’ time.
He is a modern-day icon of the club where both him and Madrid are synonymous.
