Football world erupts over 'savage' Ronaldo act
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League masterclass cemented his status as one of the all-time greats but it’s something he did after the match that fans can’t stop talking about.
Ronaldo’s incredible second leg hat-trick against Atletico Madrid almost singlehandedly dragged Juventus into the quarter-finals of the competition.
The Italian champions had it all to do after trailing 2-0 from the first leg in the Spanish capital.
That performance from Diego Simeone’s men prompted the Atletico Madrid coach’s now infamous “cajones” celebration, which subsequently went viral on social media.
Cristiano Ronaldo mocking Diego Simeone#Ronaldo#JuveAtleti pic.twitter.com/84dXaty0l5 pic.twitter.com/LDcamGL0mA
— Phunky Fatai (@phunky____) March 12, 2019
The coach’s passionate outburst was meant to highlight how brave he thought his side played in the first leg victory.
However, it came back to haunt Simeone spectacularly in the second leg as Ronaldo took the opportunity to celebrate his own match-winning heroics.
Taking great delight in imitating his opposition coach, Ronaldo marked the momentous occasion with his own version of Simeone’s celebration.
The savage mockery lit up social media as fans hailed Ronaldo’s brilliance.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the biggest savage alive. He really did the Simeone celebration after the game. 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/9ks1efYqaK
— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) March 12, 2019
Ronaldo mocking Simeone. My GOAT 🐐😂 pic.twitter.com/C6YGV1STFt
— NavindrraKumar (@Navvvvv_) March 12, 2019
Ronaldo mocking Diego Simeone's "big cajones" celebration. Brilliant. 😂😂😂👌
— ALESSANDRO (@Nerdotect) March 12, 2019
This man Ronaldo mocking Simeone lmao that's what happens when you talk too much
— Ang (@angineer7) March 12, 2019
ronaldo mocking the simeone clebration haha
— David Byer (@thedavidbyer) March 12, 2019
Am I the only one that’s gonna talk bout that ronaldo celebration mocking simeone 😂😂😂😂😂
— Y U N U $ (@YUNU34805715) March 13, 2019
Ronaldo mocking Simeone is the greatest thing to ever exist!
— Kareem (@JuveFC1897) March 12, 2019
Ronaldo mocking simeone is the best thing I have seen 😀😀😀😀
— ARCHANGEL MICHAEL (@Archh_angel) March 12, 2019
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Cristiano Ronaldo mocking Pablo Diego Simeone by his celebration gesture,,,, pic.twitter.com/PzlsJ5AHRF— Peter (@itsptaah) March 12, 2019
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri hailed Ronaldo, saying it was “impossible to think” the star had just one Champions League goal this season before Tuesday’s heroics.
The Portuguese star had scored just once in his six games prior in the competition this season, a run that surprised even Allegri.
“It’s impossible to think Cristiano with only one goal scored in this Champions League,” he told a news conference.
“He scored because he played well in the box and his team-mates worked well in the gameplay.
“A great match with an outstanding crowd supporting us and the players gave all Italian football fans a real show. That’s the most important thing.”
Ronaldo’s arrival had seemingly made Juve one of the favourites in the Champions League, which the Serie A champions last won in 1996.
But Allegri played down expectations, saying his side were just one of several contenders.
“Juventus is not the favourite to win the Champions League. We are one of the contenders and the trophy is one of our goals for this season, as usual,” he said.
“If we were eliminated it would have not been a failure. Juventus every year must play the Champions League and today, I repeat, we get to the next stage. Because if you don’t pass the round you don’t have any chance to win. It is very simple.
“You don’t need to graduate at Harvard to understand it – if you pass the group stage [you] have more chances, if not you play Europa League or watch the others from your sofa.”