In Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash, Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the greatest goals of all time. An audacious bicycle kick which has already been immortalised on YouTube.
With Los Blancos leading, Dani Carvajal played a cross into the box looking for Lucas Vazquez, who was making his way into the area.
But Ronaldo plucked it out of the air, catching it on the volley and smashing an unstoppable bicycle kick past the on-looking Gianluigi Buffon.
The world has been reacting following the outrageous strike.
Here are some of the reactions:
After the game his boss, Zinedine ZIdane said:
“You can say he’s one of the most beautiful players in the history of football.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is different.
“He’s a different player to everyone else and he always has this desire to do something extraordinary in the Champions League. He never rests on his laurels.
“His overhead kick was remarkable, yet he missed two much easier chances. That’s football.”
“Cristiano is in good form at the moment. His team-mates are very happy with him. We need to enjoy tonight, but then think about the hard work ahead of next week because Juve won’t give up.”
Veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who had earlier lauded Ronaldo’s brilliance was not surprised by the wonder-goal. He sure knows that the Portuguese is capable of the extraordinary. Buffon added: “At his best? No, I think he was the usual Ronaldo. Messi and he can be compared to Maradona and Pele for what they have been doing season after season,” he said.
“We made a few mistakes, but it can happen when you face the best.
“We feel a real sense of disappointment because we probably won’t qualify. That’s a real shame, but against some teams you have to be calm and congratulate them, because objectively they’re a stronger side.”
While Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri added: “I don’t know if Cristiano’s goal is the best in the history of football, but it’s certainly an extraordinary goal. You can only congratulate him for what he’s doing at present.”
Frank Lampard added: “The cross doesn’t need to have too much on it. The greatness is, that will be on his mind.”
Former teammate, Rio Ferdinand thinks the goal was a joke.
Ferdinand said: “In his relentless pursuit of greatness, he produces an absolute moment of brilliance.”
“The athleticism, look how high he is off the floor, it is a joke.”
Now, read Twitter reactions:
Peter Crouch who himself scored great goals, wrote;
There is only a few of us who can do that.
— Peter Crouch (@petercrouch) April 3, 2018
Tancredi Palmeri wrote;
I screamed MAMMA MIA holding my head, stood up, started to clap and invited all the press box around to do so.
Tancredi was at the Juventus Stadium the day Cristiano Ronaldo scored THAT goal
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri)
April 3, 2018
Ronaldo. What a magnificent footballer. And what a sporting reaction from the Juventus fans. Appreciating greatness.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) April 3, 2018.
England’s record goalscorer in FIFA World Cup finals (10), Gary Lineker gave his own testimony: Seen a lot of great goals in my time but that is absolutely breathtaking from Ronaldo.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 3, 2018.
Former Real Madrid teammate Alvaro Arbeloa added:
Translated: Cristiano Ronaldo can now leave Earth and play against the martians. He’s done everything here.
— Álvaro Arbeloa (@aarbeloa17) April 3, 2018.
Omg @Cristiano what a goal
— Ruud Gullit (@GullitR) April 3, 2018.
And a certain kid who watched the Portuguese develop into a global star at Old Trafford added;
Cristiano Ronaldo is a joke what a player!
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford)
April 3, 2018.
Former Europe’s best, Michael Owen gave an instruction;
OMG. Please, if you do one thing tonight make sure you see Ronaldo’s second goal. His first was awesome. I’ve no words to describe his second.
— michael owen (@themichaelowen)
April 3, 2018.
