Ronaldo says hat-trick for Real Madrid v Manchester United in 2003 Champions League quarter-final was a ‘magical moment’

Ronaldo says hat-trick for Real Madrid v Manchester United in 2003 Champions League quarter-final was a ‘magical moment’
Brazil legend Ronaldo has revealed the highlight of his illustrious career happened in a Champions League clash againstManchester United back in 2003.In one of the most thrilling individual performances, Ronaldo single-handedly wrecked United’s European ambitions with an incredible hat-trick in the quarter-final, second-leg clash.3

Ronaldo scores the first of his three goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford

While United won the match 4-3, courtesy of a late double from substitute David Beckham, it was Real who advanced and Ronaldo who stole the headlines.Such was the performance of the two-time World Cup winner that night, those inside Old Trafford rose in unison to give him a standing ovation when he was substituted and it’s a moment he has never forgotten.“It was the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford,” he said. “It was a beautiful and open duel, and I scored three goals then. It was amazing.“The best came when I was changed. The whole stadium said goodbye to me with a huge ovation.3

The Brazilian turned in a fine individual performance for Real Madrid

“Everyone stood up, I would never expect something like that. I was surprised by this spontaneous reaction of fans, for whom I was a rival after all.“It was a magical moment, one of the most important in my life. Football is everything to me. When I look back, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in my career.” Ronaldo is widely considered to be one of the greatest players to ever play the game.Fast, strong, balanced, with a cushioned touch and a deadly finish with either foot or head the mind boggles as to what he may have achieved had he stayed injury free.He joined PSV as a teenager in 1994 and scored 54 times in 58 games for the Dutch club and continued to hit the back of the net regularly at Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid.The striker was just 17 when he was included in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning squad and, after a tournament to forget in 1998,El Fenomeno was at his blistering best in 2002. In Japan and South Korea he scored twice in the final against Germany as he also won the Golden Boot (with eight goals) and Brazil lifted their fifth World Cup.He saw out his career at Brazilian club Corinthians before eventually retiring in 2011.3

Ronaldo top scored at the World Cup in 2002, but says the hat-trick and reception from the Man United fans a year later was “one of the most important in my life”

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