Cristiano Ronaldo’s moment of fury as Juventus legacy hangs in the balance

The world was a special place a yr in the past.

Simply days earlier than the coronavirus pandemic noticed soccer grind to a halt, Cristiano Ronaldo was at his mesmerising finest.

After a 2-0 defeat by the hands of Atletico Madrid within the first leg of their last-16 tie, Juventus ran out 3-0 winners in Turin to succeed in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Usually, the comeback got here by way of a Ronaldo hat-trick.

“This was why Juventus introduced me right here, to assist do issues that they’ve by no means carried out earlier than,” mentioned Ronaldo after the sport.

”That is the mentality you should win within the Champions League.”

Ronaldo was as assured but additionally as self-aware as ever.

He was proper.

After seven straight Serie A titles, there was just one motive to pay £88million, the best charge ever for a participant over 30, to convey Ronaldo to Turin.

The transfer was solely all the way down to the very fact he guided Real Madrid to the highest prize in membership soccer 4 instances within the house of 5 seasons.

Quick ahead 12 months and, in amongst the chaos that has ensued as a consequence of coronavirus, Ronaldo’s legacy in Italy is hanging by a thread.

The Previous Girl misplaced the first-leg of their last-16 tie with Porto, however Federico Chiesa’s away aim places them in a strong place regardless of a 2-1 defeat.

The tie is hanging within the stability forward of the second leg – and a second of fury from Ronaldo late on confirmed he’s nicely conscious of what’s at stake.

Deep into stoppage time, Ronaldo managed a protracted ball into the field, flicking it backwards and seeking to flip his man inside out.

As an alternative, he was caught by a careless Zaidu problem.

The referee waved play on and VAR remarkably didn’t intervene.

On Sky Sport Italia, Fabio Capello and Alessandro Del Piero claimed it was a “clear penalty” and there may very well be “no arguments”.

Over on beIN Sports activities, Ruud Gullit and Arsene Wenger agreed.

Ronaldo was understandably outraged.

He was seen shouting at official Carlos del Cerro Grande while on the ground and his protests continued after the ultimate whistle.

By this stage of his glittering profession, Ronaldo is nicely conscious of the wonderful margins that determine knockout video games on the highest degree.

He’s additionally nicely conscious that, while they nonetheless have an opportunity to progress, the penalty choice that didn’t go their manner may very well be one which makes all of the distinction.

This week’s occasions have led to loads of discuss of the altering of the guard – Kylian Mbappe downed Lionel Messi on the Nou Camp while Ronaldo was quiet in Portugal.

Now 36, it’s now or by no means for arguably the best participant of all-time if he’s to attain precisely what he was paid by Juventus to do.

On a private degree, his total legacy is untouchable however a sixth Champions League with a 3rd totally different membership would solely add one other layer to his greatness.

From a Juventus standpoint, that is the yr they need to lastly conquer Europe for the primary time since 1995 to ensure that Ronaldo to cement his legacy in Turin.

Someday, he may look again finally night time’s penalty choice that didn’t go his manner and marvel what may have been.