Cristiano Ronaldo scores against Juventus. Photo: Alberto Lingria/Reuters
I received an email from my buddy Darren Taylor in Johannesburg after Cristiano Ronaldo’s spectacular goal in Turin: “Sonny, people who don’t know the difference between a watermelon and a soccer ball are talking about the goal.”
The Portuguese star scored on an incredible, overhead bicycle kick for his second goal of the night to help Real Madrid beat Juventus, 3-0, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series.
Ronaldo has never been known as a humble football great, but my VOA colleague Gwen Outen says he did show some gratitude to the fans in Italy.
Yes, as Gwen says, it’s amazing that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in 10 consecutive Champions League matches, but his goal in Turin was truly amazing, maybe the greatest goal of his career.
Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who recently signed with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy club, sounded less than amazed, though. Ibrahimovic joked to ESPN, “he (Ronaldo) scored a beautiful goal, but he should try it from 40 meters.”
