- Title: Ronaldo delivers again in superb Champions League final
- Date: 3rd June 2017
- Summary: CARDIFF, WALES, UK (JUNE 3, 2017) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** REAL MADRID PLAYER CRISTIANO RONALDO WITH FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER SIR ALEX FERGUSON RONALDO HANDED MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD BY HIS FORMER MANAGER FERGUSON RONALDO WITH AWARD CLOSE-UP OF RONALDO RONALDO SITTING DOWN FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID PLAYER, CRISTIANO RONALDO, SAYING: (OFFICIAL TRANSLATION) "I think it was a very balanced game. I think in the first half Juve were playing really well, they created a few opportunities but I think the second half Real Madrid were really quite impressive. Our midfield was very good, the defence was higher up, the goals came through a very natural process - Casemiro, then I scored, so the second half, I think, is the best second half that Real Madrid played the whole season. I am very happy, the Champions League is always very difficult to win. And what is more, we have done against the team who have only conceded three times (in the Champions League 2016-17 season until today) and this time we scored four times." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) REAL MADRID PLAYER, CRISTIANO RONALDO, SAYING: "Well it is not a moment to speak about that, I speak already a few times about that the most important is that I did, again, amazing season. Me and my team-mates, we win the double. I think the people don't have words to criticise because the numbers don't lie, you know, to speak about myself, individual, I don't need to speak because the numbers don't lie. I am very happy, amazing season again, we win trophies and of course it is one of the best moments in my career. I have the opportunity to say that every year, that is true, this year was amazing again, last year was amazing too so it's great. Now I have two, three days off to rest and after that we have a qualified game for Portugal and we have the Confederations Cup. Long season, but I am motivated, I am happy, good moment and my head is just a number, I feel like a young boy." RONALDO THANKS THE MEDIA WITH THUMBS UP AND WALKS OFF STAGE
- Embargoed: 18th June 2017 00:45
- Keywords: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL RONALDO
- Location: CARDIFF, WALES, UK
- City: CARDIFF, WALES, UK
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JQ37SV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Cristiano Ronaldo just seems to get better and better. On Saturday (June 3) he made the difference yet again with two goals to help Real Madrid secure a third Champions League title in four years as they crushed Juventus 4-1 riveting final.
Ronaldo was handed the Man of the Match award by his former manager Alex Ferguson, a reminder of his early years as a devastatingly quick winger at Manchester United, with whom he won his first Champions League final, and of course scored.
For all the talk of tactics, the threat posed by the Italian champions, the focus on Ronaldo's Welsh team mate Gareth Bale, the romantic notion of Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon finally claiming a Champions League winner's medal and everything else that had occupied minds and column inches, Ronaldo yet again found a way to hog the headlines.
Strikes in each half from Ronaldo made him the first player to score in three finals in the Champions League era, adding to his goals in the 2008 and 2014 showpieces for Manchester United and Real respectively.
His second on Saturday, to make it 3-1 in the 64th minute, put the game beyond Juve and made him top scorer in this season's Champions League with 12 goals -- one more than Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who he is constantly compared to.
It also happened to be Ronaldo's 600th career goal for club and country.
The former Benfica and United winger-turned-striker turned 32 in February but far from fading he is as dangerous as ever -- perhaps even more effective than in his younger days.
In the past 12 months Ronaldo has won two Champions League titles, the European Championship with Portugal, claimed a Spanish league title and the World Club Cup and on an individual level been awarded the Ballon d'Or and FIFA's 'Best' award.
"Again, I've had an amazing season. Me and my team-mates have done the double. The numbers don't lie. I'm very happy - an amazing season, we've won trophies. This is one of the best moments of my career - I have the chance to say this every year," he said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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