Ronaldo ready to lead Real party
First-ever Champions League defence could become a reality
Madrid – Once famous for his extravagant step-overs and ability to leave defenders in his wake, Cristiano Ronaldo has this season evolved from fleetfooted winger to penalty box predator extraordinaire.
Real Madrid have reaped the rewards of switching the Portuguese star to play as more of a central striker.
With eight goals in his last Manchester – At 39 years of age, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon can look back on a career where he has won almost everything there is to win in the game – except for the Champions League title.
Tomorrow Buffon, the finest goalkeeper of his generation, can add the medal he misses the most if his Juventus team can overcome 11-time European champions Real Madrid in Cardiff and make him the oldest player to win the continent’s four knockout stage appearances, Ronaldo has almost single-handedly fired Zinedine Zidane’s side into tomorrow’s Champions League final with Juventus.
That also puts Los Blancos on the brink of their first league and European Cup double in 59 years as they seek to become the first side to retain the European trophy in successive seasons in its current format.
The switch to centre-forward has also seen Ronaldo overtake Jimmy Greaves as the top goalscorer in Europe’s top five leagues with 368 goals between the Premier League and La Liga, while also passing the milestones of 400 goals for Real and 100 Champions League strikes.
“The business end of the season is important. I feel good and want to be fit and firing because this is where things are decided,” Ronaldo said.
“I want to score goals and hopefully we don’t suffer too much. The team are in good form and we’ll try to enjoy it. Winning the league helped calm us down a lot. We want to make history and be the first side to defend our title.
“I’m at the best level physically as I have in the last few sea- sons because I have played less. It is down to the intelligence of Zidane and my teammates.”
Indeed, the Frenchman’s decision to rotate the No. 7 has been a key factor in their success this season.
Ronaldo has sat out four of the side’s previous nine games and is looking fresh. It is a stark contrast with last year, where he started 34 La Liga games before picking up an injury that saw him miss the Champions League semi-final victory over Manchester City.
The return speaks for itself, with 13 goals in his last nine appearances and the lowest number of games played in a single campaign since missing a large chunk of 2009/10 through injury. –
‘ ‘ We want to make history and be the first side to defend our title