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Cristiano Ronaldo: Transfer talk, annoying Sergio Ramos and boasting ... everything CR7 got up to last night

The Real Madrid star was a very busy man in the hours directly after the Spanish side won a third Champions League title in a row by beating Liverpool 3-1 in Kiev

Sunday 27 May 2018 12:44 BST
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2017/18 Champions League top scorers

For once, Cristiano Ronaldo did not take centre stage during Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final.

The Portuguese superstar did not have a bad game – almost opening the scoring with a vicious drive in the first-half – but he was restricted to a role on the fringes throughout much of the night, taking the fewest number of touches of any Real player to complete the full ninety minutes.

And he was comprehensively overshadowed by superb sub Gareth Bale, who came off the bench with half an hour remaining to win the game for the Spanish side, restoring Real’s lead with a stunning overhead kick that has been described as the greatest goal in the history of the tournament. (Or was it?)

So in true Ronaldo fashion, the 33-year-old did everything in his power to grab the headlines for events off the pitch rather than on it.

From opening the door to a move away from Madrid, to boasting that Uefa should rename the Champions League in his honour, CR7 was a very busy man from the moment the full-time whistle blew in Kiev.

In case you missed anything, here’s a full list of what he got up to.

Ronaldo celebrates after the full-time whistle (Getty )
Ronaldo celebrates after the full-time whistle (Getty ) (Getty)
  • Opened the door to a move away from Real. When asked about his future by a Spanish journalist, Ronaldo replied: “Now it's time to enjoy this. In the next few days I'll give the fans, who have been by my side, an answer. It's been great being at Real Madrid.”
  • Irritated Sergio Ramos. Real’s captain wasn’t happy with Ronaldo’s comments, saying: “If there is something there, he must clarify it today. He is a key piece for us. He could not be in a better place.”
  • Apologised. Realising he may have crossed the line with his untimely transfer talk, Ronaldo said: “Maybe it wasn’t the perfect timing to talk about personal things. Maybe I’ve made a mistake or not. It takes away from a beautiful, historic moment for us that is winning three Champions Leagues in a row, obviously it is a special moment. A player's personal things aren't the most important thing now, it might have been taken out of context but maybe I shouldn't have said what I said.”
  • Urged Uefa to rename the Champions League. Perhaps stung with the criticism from some of his team-mates, Ronaldo decided to cheer himself up with some good old-fashioned boasting. “The Champions League should change and be called the CR7 Champions League,” he said. “I have won five and I am the goalscorer again, so I cannot be sad.”
  • And celebrated! Ronaldo was one of the Real players to spend the longest posing for photographs with the Champions League trophy, although interestingly he spent much more time in the company of his family than his team-mates, the majority of whom disappeared to the dressing room long before him.  

Read more coverage on the Champions League final:

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