“I used to give him a lot of assists” - Mesut Ozil highlights relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid
Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has reminisced his near telephatic understanding with Cristiano Ronaldo on the field while at the Santiago Bernabeu. The duo played together for three full seasons before Ozil moved to Arsenal in the summer of 2013.
In 149 games together - with both on the pitch at the same time - Ozil and Ronaldo recorded an impressive 39 goal contributions, with Ronaldo scoring 32 of them. Although the UEFA Champions League title eluded them, they won three titles together, including one La Liga.
Ronaldo enjoyed a prolific spell at the club in those three seasons, scoring a staggering 168 goals in 164 games across competitions, netting at least 53 times in each campaign. The now-retired Ozil talked about his on-pitch understanding with Ronaldo (as per Madrid Xtra):
“Cristiano Ronaldo understood me very well on the pitch. I used to give him a lot of assists, and he used to score a lot of goals.”
Together at the Bernabeu, the duo helped Los Blancos win the 2011-12 La Liga - where Ronaldo scored 46 times in 34 games, four behind Pichichi winner Lionel Messi.
How did Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo fare at Euro 2024?
Cristiano Ronaldo is a bonafide Real Madrid legend, striking a record 450 times in 438 games across competitions in nine prolific seasons at the club. A goalscorer par excellence, he has netted nearly 900 times for club and country, the most by any male player.
However, the 39-year-old endured a rather disappointing Euro 2024 campaign with Portugal, who crashed out on penalties to France in the quarter-finals after a goalless 120 minutes.
Ronaldo went scoreless in five games - a first in 11 major-tournament appearances - but did notch up and assist and a few competition records. He became the first player to appear in six editions of the competition and the first to score in four shootouts.
However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner couldn't open his account, which would have made him the oldest Euros scorer and the first to net in six editions. The Real Madrid legend did score in two shootouts, though.