Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the greatest goal scorer in football history. He is Real Madrid’s record goalscorer with 450 goals in 438 appearances and has recently scored his 30th league goal of the season for Juventus, he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down any time soon even at the age of 35.
Having scored over 730 goals in his career for both club and country, Ronaldo has also scored some important penalties in decisive moments of a match. With a penalty conversion rate of 84%, it is no wonder he is often tasked by his team to take any penalties that come their way.
Here we take a look at five of his best penalties, arranged in no particular order.
5. Man United vs Arsenal 07/08, Premier League
After falling behind to an Emmanuel Adebayor goal just 3 minutes into the second half, Manchester United were handed a lifeline 4 minutes later when William Gallas was penalised after that ball struck his hand inside the Arsenal box.
Also Read: 5 Best Penalty-Takers in the History of Football
Ronaldo stepped up to take the penalty and dispatched the spot-kick to draw United level. The Red Devils went on to win the game 2-1 and go six points clear at the top of the table which all but guaranteed them the league title.
4. Real Madrid vs Juventus 17/18, Champions League
Having taken a commanding 3-0 lead after the first leg in Turin, Real found themselves trailing the Old Lady 3-0 at the Bernabeu. With the match seemingly headed into extra time, Real was awarded a penalty in the 97th minute after Lucas Vazquez went down under a challenge from Medhi Benatia, Up stepped Ronaldo, who dispatched the penalty past Wojciech Szczesny high into the net and sent Real into the semi-finals.
3. Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid 15/16, Champions League
With both sides locked on a goal apiece at the end of extra time, the 15/16 Champions League final in Milan went to penalties. With Real leading the shootout 4-3, Atletico defender Juanfran missed his spot-kick, giving Ronaldo and Real with the chance to win it with the next penalty. As usual, Ronaldo did not disappoint, dispatching his penalty past Jan Oblak and crowning Real Madrid as champions of Europe for the 11th time.
2. Real Madrid vs Paris St Germain 17/18, Champions League
PSG traveled to Madrid for the first leg of their UCL last 16 ties against Ronaldo and co. Having fallen behind to the Parisians after Adrien Rabiot’s opening goal, Real Madrid responded well just before the break after Toni Kroos won them a penalty, which Ronaldo dispatched.
The penalty, however, seemed to confuse a lot of people as the ball seemed to levitate just before Ronaldo struck it! Ronaldo’s standing foot stepping on the turf had pushed the ball up letting him to essentially volley the ball into the net. Madrid went on to win the game 3-1.
1. Juventus vs Atletico Madrid 18/19, Champions League
Having lost 2-0 to the Rojiblancos in the first leg in Madrid, Juventus welcomed Atletico to Turin to try and overturn their first-leg deficit. Ronaldo was at the centre of it all as he scored with a header either side of half-time before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot. The old lady won the tie 3-2 on aggregate and progressed to the next round.
