StoryCristiano Ronaldo’s 5 Greatest Performances

Cristiano Ronaldo may be 32 years of age, but the Real Madrid star is going as strong as ever. The Portugal international recently became the first player to score 100 European goals and should hit the 25-goal mark in La Liga this season.

Winning the league and the Champions League is very much possible for Ronaldo, who was instrumental in Portugal's clinching of the European Championship in France in the summer of 2016. The former Manchester United star is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and there are still a few more years left in him.

Over the years, Ronaldo has been involved in several exciting games of football. Criticised for not performing in big games when he was at United, the former Sporting Lisbon ace has proved time and time again in recent years that he is able to win matches on his own. After all, you do not win the Premier League thrice, the La Liga once and the Champions League on three occasions without stepping up in big games.

Below are five of Ronaldo’s greatest performances in his career so far:

Manchester United 6-0 Newcastle United, January 12, 2008

Ronaldo was the star of the show in Manchester United’s demolition of Newcastle United in January 2008. The Portugal international forward scored a hat-trick for United at Old Trafford, including a goal from a direct free kick.

Manchester United 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur, April 25, 2009

Tottenham Hotspur looked on course to win the Premier League game at Old Trafford when they went 2-0 up, thanks to goals from Darren Bent and Luka Modric. United then staged a stunning comeback, with Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney starring for the home team. Ronaldo scored twice in the 5-2 win for the Red Devils, including a diving header.

Sweden 2-3 Portugal, November 19, 2013

Portugal would not have qualified for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil had Ronaldo not produced what remains to his date his greatest performance for his country, scoring a stunning hat-trick to guide his team to a 3-2 win over Sweden. Portugal disappointed at the World Cup in Brazil, and are 25/1 to win the competition in Russia in 2018 according to international football betting odds on bet365. Perhaps Ronaldo will inspire his team again just as he did at Euro 2016 in France.

Atletico Madrid 1-4 Real Madrid, April 11, 2012

Ronaldo’s only La Liga title success with Madrid came back in 2011-12. The Portugal international forward was easily Los Blancos’ best player that season, and his most important performance came against Atletico Madrid in April 2012. Madrid had drawn three of their five matches prior to the Madrid derby and were under pressure. Ronaldo stepped up his game and scored a hat-trick to guide Madrid to a 4-1 win.

Real Madrid 3-0 Wolfsburg, April 12, 2016

Wolfsburg had won the first leg of the Champions League semi-final tie 2-0 at home, and Madrid were in danger of getting knocked out of Europe’s premier club competition. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Ronaldo turned on the style and scored three goals to guide Los Blancos to a 3-0 win in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid went on to win the Champions League title that season. Maybe Zinedine Zidane's side will win the competition again this campaign.