Nobody’s perfect.
And despite a truly sensational career which has seen him win practically all there is to win and break record after record, that will come as little consolation to Cristiano Ronaldo after his costly error saw Juventus knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday.
With Juve’s last-16 tie against Porto in the balance at 3-3 in extra time, Ronaldo turned his back on a Sergio Oliveira free-kick in the wall, and the effort beat Wojciech Szczesny and sent the Italian giants out.
Ronaldo has faced criticism since the incident, with Fabio Capello calling it an “unforgivable” error and Alessandro Del Piero saying he “must take some blame”.
Juventus legends turn on Cristiano Ronaldo after “unforgivable” mistake in Porto defeat
It is certainly a rare low point for Ronaldo in a truly stellar career, but it is not the first time he has come under fire.
Here is a look at five more of Ronaldo’s lowest points…
Red mist in the Manchester Derby
Ronaldo has been sent off a total of 11 times in his career.
And one of his earliest reds came in the Manchester Derby as his side fell to a 3-1 defeat to their bitter rivals City back in 2006.
With United 2-0 down midway through the second half, Ronaldo’s wild lunge on Andy Cole saw him given his marching orders.
United appealed the decision but it was turned down, and the then-20-year-old was banned for three games.
Sir Alex Ferguson called the decision harsh, but privately he must have been furious with Ronaldo for what was a truly unnecessary tackle.
‘The Wink’
Who could forget the controversy that ensued following the part Ronaldo played in England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal in 2006?
After his United teammate Wayne Rooney was sent off for an apparent stamp following pressure towards the referee, Ronaldo was pictured winking towards the dugouts, as if to say ‘job done’.
He was later vilified in England as a result, and even had his house vandalised by furious Three Lions supporters.
Things got so bad that Ronaldo demanded a transfer, saying: “I think I should get out of Manchester. The circumstances are not right to keep playing in Manchester.”
Eventually things calmed down, and Ronaldo ended up staying another two years, but it must certainly be regarded as one of the most psychologically challenging and difficult spells of his career.
Champions League final penalty drama
It is easily forgotten now, but Ronaldo very nearly ended up the villain in United’s dramatic Champions League final win against Chelsea in 2008.
Following a 1-1 draw after extra time the game went to penalties, and after both teams converted their first two spot kicks Ronaldo took the third for United.
But his stuttering run-up failed to deceive Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who guessed right and kept Ronaldo’s effort out.
United’s No.7 looked devastated, and it appeared the miss would prove costly as John Terry later stepped up to win the cup for the Blues.
But the rest is history, and Ronaldo was left thanking the footballing gods that his effort was not punished in the cruellest of manners. Continue reading