5 players who outperformed Cristiano Ronaldo on the grandest stages

#3 Thomas Muller: Germany 4-0 Portugal (16-06-2014)

The German scored a hat-trick against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup

After suffering humiliation at the hands of a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Real Madrid side in the Champions League semifinals in 2014, Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller finally got the chance to get revenge as Germany clashed with Portugal just two months later.

The supporting striker wasted no time launching his revenge mission, drawing first blood via a penalty kick in the 12th minute. After Matt Hummels doubled Germany's lead, Muller returned with another goal just before half-time. He added his third in the 74th minute complete a sensational hat-trick and an impressive 4-0 victory for Joachim Lowe's men on the grandest stage of all.

#2 Tuncay Sanli: Fenerbache 3-0 Manchester United (12-08-2004)

One of the biggest upsets in football history

It was a major upset as Fenerbache and Manchester United locked horns in a Champions League game on December 8, 2004. That night, a fast-rising Cristiano Ronaldo was humbled by Turkish attacker Tuncay Sanli.

Not many can remember what happened that night. Sanli ran riot and gave the Red Devils a tough time throughout the encounter. Following a goalless first half, the attacker stepped up and took total control of the match immediately after the restart.

He scored the first goal of the night just two minutes into the second half and doubled Fenerbache's lead in the 62nd minute. By the time the game reached the 90th minute mark, Sanli had made it a hat-trick, concluding one of the finest individual performances in Champions League history.

#1 Robert Lewandowski: Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Real Madrid (24-4-2013)

Lewandowski bagged four goals to destroy Real Madrid in Germany

Not many players can claim to have scored a hat-trick against a team that featured Cristiano Ronaldo, not to talk of making it four. But that's exactly what Polish striker Robert Lewandowski did when he faced the Portuguese in the Champions League in 2013

The attacker was still at Borussia Dortmund when he staged this incredible display, single-handedly destroying Real Madrid at Signal Iduna Park. He opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute and Ronaldo restored parity in the 43rd minute.

Then began the Lewandowski show. The Polish forward ran riot in the second half, scoring thrice in 17 minutes to make it a quadruple of goals and ensuring the BVB secured a 4-1 triumph on their home ground.