IT COULD BE RONALDO VS MESSI ONCE AGAIN

In the 27th minute of what was a tournament-defining game between Juventus and Atletico Madrid in Turin last week, Cristiano Ronaldo made his leap. Faster, higher, stronger. He soared, years of instinct, experience and excellence crystallised in that microsecond when, perfectly poised, almost hanging in the air, his head met the ball and barrelled it into the net. Juventus led 1-0.

Ronaldo’s team, Juventus, trailing 0-2 in the first leg, needed to win this game 3-0 to progress to the quarter final of the Champions League. The Champions League, the tournament Juventus — serial winners of the Italian domestic league — prizes above all else, the tournament it has been so close to winning several times in the past decade and been denied on every occasion. And now Juventus was on the verge of being knocked out in the pre quarter final.

In the 48th minute, Ronaldo rose again, a colossus. He scored again. The aggregate was level. With four minutes of regular time to go, he buried a penalty, a screamer that had intent and resolve stamped all over it. Juventus was through in the most miraculous of ways, thanks to this most miraculous of players. It was Ronaldo’s eighth hat trick in Europe’s premier club competition, this one against the meanest defence in European club football. How does he do it?

Ronaldo celebrated by thrusting his hip forward and grabbing his crotch. The gesture was a riposte to the Atletico coach, Diego Simeone, who had celebrated in a similar manner after Atletico beat Juventus in the first leg (and been sanctioned for it). Ronaldo, too, was charged with improper conduct for his celebration. Afterwards, speaking to reporters about the match, he said: “This is why Juventus brought me here.” Even his worst critics would not be able to accuse him of being understated or modest.

The day after Ronaldo’s historic hat trick, Messi applauded his great adversary. “Cristiano had a magical night with all three goals.” Cue for Messi to dispense, as if from a slot machine, his brand of magic in a weekend game in the Spanish league.

In Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Real Betis, Messi scored a hat trick. It was his 51st hat trick. As big occasions go, it was not comparable to the crunch game in which Ronaldo had just got his one. But the way in which Messi accomplished his feat, and what happened after he had done so, was unique.

His third goal was one of jaw-dropping audacity, one that hovered on the border of the barely credible. Sid Lowe, author of Fear and Loathing in the La Liga, described it like this in The Guardian. “Not so much hit first time as coaxed, the ball rose softly and curved gently, granting