"He reassured me: 'Don't worry, I'll score 3 goals'" - Cristiano Ronaldo's ex-teammate shares what he said before epic Champions League display
Former Juventus forward Douglas Costa recently fondly recalled Cristiano Ronaldo's bold claim ahead of their crucial UEFA Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid in the 2018/19 season. The Brazilian spoke about how the Portuguese star not only claimed he would do the near impossible, but also go on to actually do it.
That season, Juventus had topped their Champions League group featuring Manchester United, Valencia, and Young Boys. The Serie A side were given a difficult draw in the Round of 16, with Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid waiting for them.
Juventus suffered a damaging 2-0 loss at the Stadia Metropolitana in a hostile atmosphere in the first leg. Two late goals from defenders Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin had given Atleti a seemingly unassailable lead.
Playing in Turin in the second leg, the Old Lady required three unanswered goals to qualify for the quarter-finals. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had joined Juventus that summer, bagged a hat-trick in the match to single-handedly take the Serie A giants into the quarter-finals.
Costa, who currently plays for A-League club Sydney FC, elaborated to Juventus News24 on the promise the former Real Madrid star made to him ahead of the second leg.
"I remember the defeat in Madrid against Atletico. I felt out of the Champions League after the 2-0 in the first leg and he [Cristiano] reassured me: ‘Don’t worry, I’ll score 3 goals in the return leg’. He really did it!," recalled the delighted Douglas Costa.
Although they failed to pass the next test in Ajax, the match is fondly remembered by Juventus fans and players alike as one where Cristiano Ronaldo vanquished one of the most defensively astute teams in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo given special UEFA honor for Champions League scoring exploits
Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr was, earlier this season, honored by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin with a special award. With 140 goals in the Champions League, the 39-year-old Portuguese is the all-time leading goalscorer in the competition, 11 ahead of Lionel Messi.
The award, which celebrates Ronaldo's legacy in the most prestigious club competition in the world, was given to the footballer in Monaco on August 29.
Cristiano Ronaldo has an unparalleled history in UEFA's premier competition. He has finished as the top scorer in the competition in seven different seasons and also holds the record for the most goals in a single season - 17 in 2013/14.
The five-time Champions League winner is also the only player to have scored in the final on three separate occasions - 2008, 2014, and 2017. His record 183 appearances in the competition has seen him represent four different clubs - Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.