You will be shocked to learn that Cristiano Ronaldo has played regularly in the 90 series Anatomy of a Goal and honored some of the best goals ever scored worldwide for posterity.
Given his hundreds of strikes for both club and country, it’s not hard to understand why.
Ronaldo’s star career has been marked by incredible goals and fantastic individual moments during his time with Sporting CP, Man Utd, Real Madrid, Juventus and on the international stage with Portugal.
Ronaldo at Dragao 2009 | Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
You can check out some of his other greats here: His ball head against Roma His sublime free kick against Portsmouth The classic counterattack against Arsenal His outrageous overhead kick against Liverpool
But today, children, we will focus on Ronaldo’s good rocket for Manchester United against Porto in the quarterfinals of the Champions League 2008/09.
This was the Red Devils’ first crack at revenge against the Dragoes since José Mourinho’s famous sprint along the Old Trafford touchline five years earlier, about to lift the famous trophy. Another subplot was that Ronaldo is of course a former Sporting CP player, desperate to get one over to the Portuguese champions for his ex-club.
Porto caused United problems in the first stage | ANDREW YATES / Getty Images
However, it did not look too rosy for United to enter the second stage …
After conceding a disappointing 2-2 draw at home with the permission of an 89-minute equalizer by Mario Gonzalez, the proprietors knew they would have to score and probably win in Porto’s terrifying Estadio do Dragao in the return leg eight days later.
While the odds were already against them, United’s hosts had never lost at home to English opposition at the time and had beaten Arsenal in the group stage that season (yes, Arsenal played in the Champions League once upon a time).
It would probably take a bit of magic to unlock a stubborn opponent. Go in, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo was looking for revenge in the second stage | Etsuo Hara / Getty Images
Ronaldo collected a pass off the foot from former postal star Anderson halfway inside the enemy’s territory, Ronaldo opened his body and looked to drive forward in a typically fighting manner.
Wait a minute … is he moving the ball out of his feet ?!
In a moment reminiscent of a five-sided person who will shoot from his own half, 40 yards out, Ronaldo puts his head and his iconic right red Nike Mercurial down through the adidas Star Ball to send it soaring through the night sky.
Thumpppp | MIGUEL RIOPA / Getty Images
Certainly not. Cristiano du tw **. Send it! What the hell are you doing …
The net curls when the home support behind the goalkeeper is stunned and the traveling believers go up in the air.
SIUUUUU
The ridiculous shot clocked at 64.2 mph – not really faster than a fast bullet, but close enough.
? Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of the biggest goals in #UCL history #OTD 2009! ??? pic.twitter.com/LvfpnHSbLT
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 15, 2021
Back on Portuguese soil, Ronaldo had produced an absolute screamer to make it 1-0 and bag a crucial away goal for his side. A moment of pure boldness that caught everyone cold. United would hold on for the tough 1-0 victory to advance to the semi-finals where they would win over Arsenal, before finally falling to Barcelona and Lionel Messi in the final.
Ronaldo’s bolt from the blue would continue to win the initial Puskas award, and that’s probably fair.
Warning: Yes, we know; the old cliché “it’s at a good height for a goalkeeper” rings true here, with trackie-bottom stopper Helton reacting strangely late and getting absolutely nowhere near the ball, but – to use another cliché – “take nothing away from the strike”.
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