Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s five greatest games for Real Madrid

4. Atletico Madrid 1-4 Real Madrid, La Liga (April 11, 2012)

The title race for La Liga 11/12 was neck to neck. Real Madrid were leading and had the opportunity to go four points clear of the second-placed, FC Barcelona. There however was one problem, Real had to beat a very strong Atletico side at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. The first twenty minutes of the match went Atletico’s way, they created the better chances but had nothing to show for on the scoreboard.

Karim Benzema won a freekick at 24 minutes and that was when Cristiano Ronaldo struck, and boy, did he strike it well! He converted from yards outside to score his 50th goal of the season past Thibaut Courtois guarding the Atletico goal who had absolutely no clue of the ball’s movement as it flew past him. Real created a couple of half-chances but that was it for the half.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Atletico were on top and they soon found their reward. Falcao, who had been a looming danger throughout the match headed in an equalizer in the 55th minute, and it was game on at El Derbi. Ronaldo was quick to react, forcing a smart save just a couple of minutes later, signalling a storm Atletico would never have seen coming.

Ronaldo struck in astonishing fashion, again, from yards out, and the ball flew past Courtois and into the back of the net placed perfectly just under the bar. Yet another unbelievable goal, the kind that is worthy of winning the team their league crown and now the count was two for the night.

As the match neared its end, things tilted Real’s way. The experienced Diego Godin brought down Gonzalo Higuain inside the box in an absolutely reckless challenge at a stage of the game when Atleti were only one behind. There was only one candidate to take the spot kick, and he didn’t disappoint. With that hit, Ronaldo completed his hat-trick and reached the 40 league goals mark. But, he wasn’t done yet.

Ronaldo closed the curtains of a brilliant performance with a great assist for Jose Callejon to score the fourth for Real Madrid. To continue snatching the spotlight for 90 long minutes from 21 other players or the pitch isn’t an ordinary feat. And, in my opinion, the league’s second El Derbi of the 2011/12 season was Cristiano Ronaldo’s best league performance ever.