The king is poised to reign again

Zinedine Zidane said he would not trade any of his Real Madrid players for Mohamed Salah. Why would he when he has the most influential player in Champions League history at his disposal? Although nothing separates the two players this season, having both scored 44 goals across all competitions, Salah still has a long way to go before he can match Cristiano Ronaldo’s incredible exploits in the Champions League – a competition where he is king. With 120 goals to his name, no player has ever scored more goals in Champions League history than the Portugese megastar, who is already a lock to become the competition’s top scorer for a record-extending seventh season.

Ronaldo has netted an incredible 15 times in the Champions League this season, scoring a rate of one goal every 72 minutes.

That is five more goals than any of his nearest rivals, two of whom play for Liverpool: Salah and Roberto Firmino.

He has reached double figures for seven consecutive seasons and his four finals goals are the highest of the Champions League era. And although he has just returned from an ankle injury to take his place in Saturday’s (Sunday NZT) final, the 33-year-old still looms as the most important figure for Real – a team whose 12 European triumphs significantly outweighs their three finals defeats.

Having bombed in La Liga – finishing well behind Barcelona in third place – the pressure is on Real as a team but, more importantly, Ronaldo to deliver his fourth Champions League title.

He should be hitting his best form with the World Cup just weeks away.

Ronaldo has carried Real on his shoulders before and, having scored a brace against Juventus in the final last season and finishing Atletico Madrid off in the penalty shootout the year prior, I expect him to produce his best on the biggest stage once again.