Cristiano Ronaldo steals the show with hat-trick against Wolfsburg

Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show yet again for Real Madrid

Real Madrid turned around a two-goal deficit in their Champions League quarter-final against Wolfsburg, winning 3-0 at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night with Cristiano Ronaldo getting all the goals. Adam Bate was in Madrid to see the iconic forward do his thing…

It was quite a night for Dani Carvajal. Restored to Real Madrid's Champions League line-up, he provided the catalyst for both first-half goals. Luka Modric impressed too with his ceaseless prompting, earning his loud ovation when substituted just before the close.
Everyone contributed. They had to for Real to become only the third team to recover from a 2-0 deficit in the Champions League, keeping their season alive in the process. But nevertheless, there could be no denying that one man stood far above the rest.

Champions League - Today

Atletico MvBarcelona

• Barcelona13/10
• Atletico Madrid11/5
• Draw12/5

West HamvMan Utd

• Andy Carroll to score a header4/1

Ronaldo treble rescues Real

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick as Real Madrid eliminated Wolfsburg.

Cristiano Ronaldo's record-equalling fifth Champions League hat-trick was just the latest tour de force from a player who has made a career out of it. Two goals in the space of two minutes wiped out Wolfsburg's lead and a trademark free-kick finished the job late on.
In between, he did everything he could to carry his side into the semi-finals yet again. Though he lost possession more times (19) than any of his team-mates, this merely reflected the shared understanding that it's his responsibility, first and foremost, to make things happen.

Ronaldo produced a magnficent hat-trick to see off Wolfsburg

It's difficult to think of many who've embraced that responsibility with quite so much vigour as Ronaldo. And if there are those critical of his acute awareness of his importance, it's nights like this that make you wonder how anyone could expect the fact to escape him.
His three goals take his tally for the season to 16 in the Champions League alone - one shy of his own record. He has scored 40 goals in 36 European games at the Bernabeu and, remarkably, is averaging almost a goal a game in the knockout stages of the competition.

Most goals in a Champions League season

Season	Player	Club	Goals
2013/14	Cristiano Ronaldo	Real Madrid	17
2015/16	Cristiano Ronaldo	Real Madrid	16
2011/12	Lionel Messi	Barcelona	14

Here's a look at how Cristiano Ronaldo set alight La Liga on his arrival at Real Madrid.

But aside from the goals, what struck most about his performance on Tuesday was that it was precisely that - a performance. Ronaldo's sense of showmanship is such that to watch him in action is to witness a piece of theatre played out in front of an audience of almost 80,000.
His latest coach Zinedine Zidane was once the subject of a film that focused solely on his movement around the pitch. The camera followed the languid Frenchman - catching every deft flick and every time he drifted in search of space.

Take a look at some of Ronaldo's best skills and goals in a Real Madrid shirt

For all the high-class moments, Zidane was an understated genius. Not so Ronaldo. There's no need to be a football aficionado to recognise the star quality in Real Madrid's No 7. He was an animated figure throughout.
Although two goals came in the first half - a predator's finish and a header showcasing his physical prowess - it was after the interval, with the game in the balance and Real knowing any error could see them exit Europe's biggest stage, that the principal actor stole the show.

Ronaldo heading home is second goal of the night against Wolfsburg

Ronaldo's sense of urgency was apparent - rushing ball-boys and team-mates alike, insisting on quickly taken throw-ins. This visible frustration at colleagues isn't always an attractive sight but here he captured the mood. He wasn't asking anyone to do anything he wouldn't, after all.
So there was frustration with Casemiro and the lack of midfield runners from deep when he wanted to threaten the back-line with yet another quick throw. There was exasperation with Toni Kroos when his own pressing was not being backed up behind him.

Ronaldo matches Messi mark

A closer look at the scoring feats of Cristiano Ronaldo - the Champions League's leading scorer.

With a quarter of an hour left and Real still searching for a winner, he took it upon himself to manically charge down the goalkeeper, forcing an error in the process and sparking loud cheers from the Bernabeu crowd. Ronaldo never forgets they have a part to play.
He gestured to them on 52 minutes, instructing for the noise levels to be ratcheted up. Ten minutes later he repeated the trick, imploring them to put yet more pressure on Wolfsburg. And when he netted what turned out to be the winner, it only pumped him up more.

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He even picked up a booking attempting to shut down a rare Wolfsburg attack. And when he was hacked down by Dante soon after, he finally got the desired response. The name of Cristiano was bellowed again and again with increasing lustre. It was thoroughly deserved.
At 31, how many more nights like this Ronaldo will get to enjoy in a Real Madrid shirt remains to be seen. But this was an incredible sixth hat-trick of the season so far and, by some distance, his most important.
It was a reminder that he remains a truly extraordinary player. Yet more evidence, after his recent Clasico winner, of his ability to influence big games. In doing so, he relegated some world-class talents to mere bit-part roles. It was a reminder that Ronaldo still stands above the rest.