Wednesday was the day: Cristiano Ronaldo took the field for the 178th time in a Champions League match and thus became the sole record-breaking player in the top flight. A look at his milestones.
With his 177th CL appearance – the 2-1 loss at Young Boys Bern in a Manchester United kit – CR7 drew level with former team-mate Iker Casillas. With the Spanish keeper, Ronaldo won Real Madrid’s much-awaited “La Decima” in 2014 – the 4-1 victory over city rivals Atletico brought the royals their tenth Champions League and European Cup triumph.
With the Red Devils’ home match against FC Villarreal on Wednesday evening, the 36-year-old no longer has to share this mark with Casillas. Now CR7 is also at the top of this ranking. On this occasion, it is worth taking a look at Ronaldo milestones in the Champions League.
Bitter debut in Stuttgart
October 1, 2003, CL Match No. 1: Debut in the CL group stage with Manchester United at VfB Stuttgart. Ronaldo rubs up against Andreas Hinkel, ManUnited lose 2-1.
First goal with three and a half years to go
10 April 2007, CL Match No. 27: It takes Cristiano Ronaldo three and a half years to score his first goal in the Champions League. He scores a brace in the quarter-final against AS Roma – ManUnited win 7:1, but it’s all over in the semi-final against eventual triumphants Milan.
Single penalty miss but still hands on the handle pot
21 May 2008, CL match no. 40: Cristiano Ronaldo is in the final of the top division for the first time – with Manchester United he meets FC Chelsea with Michael Ballack in Moscow in an all-English final. In the end, the German international sank to the ground in disappointment as the Red Devils prevailed 6:5 in the penalty shootout. CR7 had scored in regulation time, but in the lottery game from the spot he was the only ManUnited professional to miss.
Messi rejoices – Cristiano Ronaldo loses only this one final
27 May 2009, CL Match No. 52: Almost exactly a year later, Cristiano Ronaldo and ManUnited have the chance to become the first team (after Milan in the early 90s) to repeat their Champions League triumph, but in the only CL final to date in which CR7 and Lionel Messi have faced each other, the little flea from Barcelona plays cat and mouse with the Ferguson team. Barcelona under Pep Guardiola rejoice, Messi scores, Cristiano Ronaldo goes home empty-handed and loses his only European final.
When Lewandowski stole the show from CR7
24 April 2013, CL match no. 91: He experienced possibly his bitterest hour in the premier class in Dortmund. The 1:4 in the semi-final first leg at BVB was the highest defeat he suffered in this competition. And on top of that, the goal scorer had to watch the then Borussia striker Robert Lewandowski brutally steal the show with four goals. In the second leg, with Real 2-0 up in the 96th minute, he dropped in the penalty area and demanded a penalty – to no avail.
In Lisbon for “La Decima “
24 May 2014, CL Match No. 103: In Lisbon, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has the chance to lead Real Madrid to the much-awaited “La Decima”. The last triumph in the top flight was twelve years ago, when the royals defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen. City rivals Atletico looked like certain winners, but then Sergio Ramos scored in injury time to make it 1-1, and CR7 scored a penalty in extra time to make it 4-1. The longing – his and that of his proud club – is sated.
Unsatiable hunger for goals: 37 times more than one goal – Four against Malmö
8 December 2015, CL Match No. 121: 37 times Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more than once in a Champions League match. In the process, he laced 29 doubles and seven trebles. However, he was the most goal-hungry in the home match with Real Madrid against Malmö FF. Ronaldo scored four goals in an 8-0 win over the Swedes – in a row and in just 20 minutes. It was also his highest win in the top flight.
Goal number 100 in a treble against Bayern
18 April 2017, CL match no. 137: In the quarter-finals against FC Bayern, everything seemed to be set for Real after the 2-1 first leg win in Munich. But in the second leg, the royals had to go into extra time – and the great Ronaldo show could begin. After scoring earlier, he followed it up in the 105th and 109th minutes to clear the way for the semi-finals.
Do it again, Cristiano
3 June 2017, CL match no. 140: Real Madrid beat Atletico again in the 2016 final, this time even going to penalties. The following season, the royals had a historic opportunity to break a final curse, as no team had managed to defend the title since the inception of the Champions League in 1992. CR7 also wanted to remove this blemish and was the outstanding man on the pitch in the final against Juventus – he scored two goals, drew the kicker grade 1 and lifted the handle trophy to the sky with his long-time companions such as Sergio Ramos, Marcelo or Toni Kroos.
Farewell from Madrid: On a par with Seedorf
26 May 2018, CL match 153: Others provide the show in the 2018 Champions League final, Real Madrid beating Klopp’s Liverpool FC 3-1 as wildcard Gareth Bale scores twice fantastically. CR7 probably didn’t care, as he left the royals for Turin with his fifth Champions League title. Only Dutchman Clarence Seedorf managed that before him with Ajax (1995), Real (1998, 2000) and Milan (2003, 2007).
Brych shows red – Sole sending off for hair pulling
19 September 2018, CL Match No. 154: First game for Juventus in the top flight, CR7 has joined the Bianconeri to finally get the proud Old Lady the handle pot. In the first group match in Valencia, he was sent off with a straight red – German referee Felix Brych penalised the Portuguese for allegedly pulling his hair. It is the only sending-off for him in the Champions League so far.
Record set and re-set
14 September 2021, CL Match 177: In his second episode in a Manchester United shirt, CR7 makes his 177th Champions League appearance, catching up with former teammate Iker Casillas after appearances. As of 29 September 2021, he is the sole record holder with his appearance against Villarreal – the rematch of the 2021 Europa League final will be the Portuguese’s 178th game in the top flight.
