The Portuguese forward scored the decisive penalty as Madrid claimed a 5-3 shoot-out victory over Atletico Madrid after the European decider finished locked at 1-1 after extra-time in Milan on Sunday morning (AEST).
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Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul could not hide his disappointment following Saturday’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, insisting the team did not deserve to suffer more heartbreak.
Antoine Griezmann had missed a penalty minutes after the break, smashing the crossbar, but it was Juanfran who missed in the shootout. But Atletico produced a typically gritty performance with Carrasco finding the equaliser with a header off Juanfran’s cross.
Ronaldo acknowledged that both sides were struggling for energy in an extra-time period that saw few clear chances.
Despite the rain which fell on Madrid on Saturday night, thousands of supporters had stayed up celebrating until the team arrived back in the capital and the sun was up by the time they arrived at Cibeles.
The first match took place in 2014, when Real Madrid defeated Atletico 4-1 in overtime. We’ve really worked hard, fought it out. “When you win something as big as the Champions League, it means a lot – for the players and the technical staff”, he told reporters after the match.
“To be honest, I was confident I would score, I said to Zidane before the penalties, ‘put me the last one because I feel I’m going to score the winning goal, ‘ and this is what happened”, he said.
“To lose two finals is a failure”. “I was confident I would score”.
Ronaldo continues to defy belief with his extraordinary numbers, eclipsing 50 goals in all competitions once again, but the former Manchester United star is hungry for more. “I still feel good, I still feel fresh, not tonight though!” he said.
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Real coach Zinedine Zidane and Atletico counterpart Diego Simeone had kept to the script with no real surprises in their respective line-ups for the final.
