#4 Ronaldo received a standing ovation at Old Trafford
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On 23rd April 2003, Old Trafford faithful witnessed a European classic as Manchester United took on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals. Manchester United won the second leg at home but failed to advance on aggregate as a Ronaldo hat-trick spoiled their party with the match ending 4-3 in favour of the Red Devils.
Ronaldo was at his destructive best as he helped Real withstand the pressure which was generated by the in-form trio of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and David Beckham. After scoring a well-deserved treble, the smiling assassin was substituted amidst a surprising standing ovation from the entire crowd which took even the player aback for a moment.
Madrid directors in the stands were also impressed by the rapturous applause for the Brazilian genius.
After the game, David Beckham said, "Ronaldo destroyed us. The whole crowd got to their feet and gave the bloke the kind of ovation a United player would have got. The Manchester crowd knows its football and knew they’d been privileged to be there, watching Ronaldo play.
“I felt really proud of them in a different way that night, watching their reaction as Ronaldo walked off with his hands above his head, clapping back."
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