#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Trending
No ordinary player scores consecutive hat-tricks in Champions League quarter and semi-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo is no ordinary player. In fact, he has more goals (50) in the Champions League knockout stages than any other player and his six goals against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid proved any doubters that the Portuguese is still operating at the very highest level.
Now 32, Ronaldo has adapted his game to the physiological changes in his body in a mature fashion. Having started out as a wide-man, Ronaldo now plays more centrally for Zinedine Zidane’s side where physical speed is not as important. Mentally though, Ronaldo remains faster than anyone. He has the anticipation, the scent for goals, and the physique to out-muscle his opponents. Those attributes make him the best goalscorer in European football, perhaps the best there’s ever been.
On Saturday he will meet Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci – the two Italian’s who sit in the middle of arguably the best defence in Europe at present. Before Kylian M’Bappe’s goal in the second-leg of the semi-final Max Allegri’s side had conceded only two goals in the competition, and, impressively, none of those were scored by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Keeping out two-time European title winner Ronaldo, however, may prove to be a much trickier task, especially with a fifth Ballon d’Or essentially secured should Ronaldo steer his side to victory. This match-up between Europe’s meanest defence and it’s most lethal marksman should make for a compelling finale.
