Ronaldo silences Madrid critics with 3rd title in 4 years

Published 3:49 pm Sunday, June 4, 2017

After another potent demonstration of Cristiano Ronaldo’s enduring scoring prowess, surely no Real Madrid fan can contemplate criticizing him now.

Particularly after the world player of the year ensured Madrid pulled off one of soccer’s hardest feats, becoming the first team to successfully defend their Champions League title.

The fans who irritated Ronaldo so much ahead of Saturday’s final due to their whistling were silenced in emphatic style with two goals in a 4-1 victory over Juventus that gave Madrid a record-extending 12th European crown.

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“People don’t have words to criticize,” Ronaldo said, “because the numbers don’t lie.”

They certainly don’t after another incredible season, even at the age of 32.

“My age is just a number,” Ronaldo said. “I feel like a young boy.”

At the end of the 25th season of the Champions League, Ronaldo is the first player to score in three of the competition’s finals. And having lifted the European Cup once with Manchester United, Ronaldo has done it three times in four seasons with Madrid.

It’s the latest piece of silverware in an incredible 12 months for the forward.

It began with Ronaldo winning his first title with Portugal at the European Championship. Then came the Club World Cup with Real Madrid and the end of a five-year Spanish title drought before new highs were reached in the Champions League.

His career goal tally in club and international soccer now stands at 600.