The world of soccer was set ablaze on Tuesday thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s breath-taking goal in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Juventus at Allianz Stadium in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
The Portuguese connected with a scintillating bicycle kick off a Dani Carvajal cross to notch his second goal of the afternoon, earning him a standing ovation from the home faithful.
Teammates, coaches, rival players and even heads of state have voiced their amazement towards the goal and Ronaldo himself in the hours following the match.
Zinedine Zidane: “One of the most beautiful goals in the history of football”
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, who knows a thing or two about scoring unforgettable Champions League goals, hailed Ronaldo’s goal as one of the best in the history of the sport.
“(It is) one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football. Cristiano does things sometimes that only he can do. It can be said that it is one of the most beautiful goals in the history of football. ” said Zidane after the game.
“I’m the coach but I’m also a football fan, when I see something like that … that’s why Ronaldo is different from others because he can do that kind of thing.”
Max Allegri: “extraordinay goal”
Despite being on the receiving side of the goal and the loss, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri took time to applaud Ronaldo’s effort.
“I don’t know if Cristiano’s goal is the best in the history of football but it’s certainly an extraordinary goal. You can only congratulate him for what he’s doing at present,” said Allegri after the match.
Iker Casillas: “Special congratulations to Cristiano. What a golazo!”
Former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas took to Twitter to congratulate his old teammate after the game.
“Real Madrid, spectacular yesterday in Turin. Great team effort. Special congratulations to Cristiano. What a golazo!,” wrote Casillas on his Twitter account.
Casillas and Ronaldo shared the Real Madrid locker room from 2009 until the goalkeeper’s departure for Porto in 2015.
Keylor Navas: “worthy of applause by everyone in the stadium”
Casillas’s successor in the Real Madrid goal, Keylor Navas, also marveled at his teammate’s goal, and highlighted the reception received by Ronaldo from Juventus fans at the Allianz Stadium.
“It was a golazo. I was back there and when I saw the cross, I thought he would do a bicycle kick. He had no other option. He did an incredible jump and put it right where the goalkeeper can not get to it,” said Navas.
“It was a goal worthy of applause, as the whole stadium did.”
Sergio Ramos: “It was a golazo”
Current Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos also praised his teammate’s goal, hoping he keeps up his current great form the rest of the way.
“It was a golazo. It caught me in a great spot to watch it,” said Ramos.
“To also earn the recognition of the crowd, at that level, is a reward on a personal level. A golazo like that one of the thousands he has scored. I hope he keeps it up the rest of the campaign.
Gary Lineker: “absolutely breathtaking”
Former English striker and 1990 World Cup leading scorer Gary Lineker also voiced his amazement with Ronaldo’s goal.
“Seen a lot of great goals in my time but that is absolutely breathtaking from Ronaldo,” said Lineker.
French newspaper L’Equipe: “On another planet”
The most important European publications dedicated their prime spaces to Ronaldo and his performance on Tuesday in Turin.
French newspaper L’Equipe featured the Portuguese’s bicycle kick on Wednesday’s front cover, and did not spare words of admiration towards him.
“A brace, an assist and a brilliant bicycle kick,” read the paper’s recap of the match.
“Cristiano Ronaldo, monstrous once again, brought Juve to their knees and all but sent Real Madrid to the semifinals.”
English newspaper The Guardian: “Amazing”
Several English newspaper followed suit, showering Ronaldo praise across their sports pages.
The Guardian hailed his goal as “amazing,” accompanied by the image of the bicycle kick.
The Telegraph highlighted his “prowess, grace and audacity,” and put the goal into historical perspective in terms of the Champions League’s great goals.
“In the 64 minute, Ronaldo scored one of the most exquisite goals this competition has ever seen,” reads the paper’s recap.
“It was a perfect combination of beauty and synchronization.”
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport: “Masterpiece”
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport simply described Ronaldo’s goal as a “mastepiece” in a full-page display on their Wednesday edition.
La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote “Juventus were surpassed by Real and a martian. An angel against humans” in reference to Ronaldo.
Turin newspaper Tuttosport succumbed to Ronaldo’s masterful performance, contrasting it with Paulo Dybala’s, which ended with a red card right after the goal.
“The comparison between Cristiano and Dybala has been unmerciful,” wrote the newspaper.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: “(a) memorable exhibition”
Even Portugal’s president could not hold his praise for the Real Madrid star.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa passed along his congratulations to Ronaldo for his “monumental” goal, hailing him as a revered figure in Portugal.
“Of course, I saw Ronaldo’s goal. I already congratulated him. I did not speak with him directly, but I spoke to someone close to him,” said Rebelo de Sousa.
“There is no doubt (Ronaldo) is not just admired by the whole world. He is very much admired in Portugal, but the Spaniards have in him an example of what it means to be the best in the world.”
