Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s five most clutch goals for Portugal

2. Incredible back-heel goal vs Hungary, EURO 2016

Portugal had never won an international trophy before the EURO 2016 held in France. And it looked like things wouldn’t be any different in that tournament as well, with Portugal drawing the first two league games of the EURO.  And the fact that Ronaldo couldn’t convert a penalty in the previous game against Austria just drew him additional criticism.

He had to answer his doubters, but before that, he had to lead Portugal into the knockout stage. And Ronaldo being Ronaldo, had done both of them in the same match.

In a closely contested 3-3 draw vs Hungary in the third group stage game which saw Hungary taking the lead and conceding a goal thrice, El Bicho had manufactured all three goals. He had assisted Nani’s first goal with a beautiful through ball and went on to add two goals to his name.

But out of all the three, his first goal and Portugal’s second goal was something out of this world. He had aimed to convert Joao Mario0’s high cross with a tap-in, but the cross was behind him. Instead of shoring his run or leaving the ball, he had improvised on the spot, by guiding the ball into the net with a neat back-heel flick with his right foot. Words aren’t enough to describe this goal scored in a clutch moment.

This performance from Ronaldo had ensured that the Portuguese gained a point from this match, and would finish 3rd in their group, qualifying for the knockout stages. And the rest, as we know, is history.