The Real Champs
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Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s five previous Champions League finals

By Sachin Bhat

MILAN, ITALY - MAY 28: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid kisses the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final match between Real Madrid and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - MAY 28: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid kisses the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final match between Real Madrid and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) /
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(FILES) This file picture dated May 27, 2009 shows Manchester United’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) fighting for the ball with Barcelona´s Brazilian defender Sylvinho during the final of the UEFA football Champions League at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Manchester United have agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record 80 million pounds (130 million dollars, 94 million euros), the club said on June 11, 2009. AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) This file picture dated May 27, 2009 shows Manchester United’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) fighting for the ball with Barcelona´s Brazilian defender Sylvinho during the final of the UEFA football Champions League at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Manchester United have agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record 80 million pounds (130 million dollars, 94 million euros), the club said on June 11, 2009. AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) /

#5 Rome 2009: Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United

The match that effectively triggered the ‘Messi vs. Ronaldo’ debate. This was the first and the only major final that the two faced off, and the world awaited with bated breath. At the time, Ronaldo was a Ballon d’Or winner having won the Champions League with United the year before, while Messi was just getting started, having only inherited the No.10 jersey from the Milan-bound Ronaldinho at the start of the season.

The Portuguese international was a recipient of two half-decent chances inside the opening 15 minutes of the match, but couldn’t muster enough flair to trouble the Blaugrana backline.

But as the game progressed, Ronaldo’s influence plummeted gradually. He was increasingly frustrated and it reached the boiling point when he hacked Puyol down with a needless-yet-horrendous tackle that earned him a yellow.

This was believed to be his last game in a United shirt with the shadows of Real Madrid looming large upon him. And his misery was only compounded when his great Argentine rival scored THAT header to seal the tie.

Ronaldo’s six stellar years with United met a painful ending. But it marked the beginning of something historic with the eventual switch to Madrid.

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