A total of 25 goals in 29 appearances; Cristiano Ronaldo’s “worst” goal tally in eight La Liga seasons was still phenomenal. These facts explain why.
May 21, 2017, Estadio La Rosaleda, Malaga 1-2 Real Madrid. The 2016/17 UEFA Champions League finalists were finally crowned La Liga champions after a great campaign. Los Blancos ended their five-year wait for the league title since a José Mourinho-led team claimed the gong in 2012.
Club chiefs had revealed their want for the Spanish Primera Division title with much fury. The trophy had eluded them usually ending up at eternal rivals Barcelona. Even city enemy Atletico Madrid got a share of it! And with that fury of the club’s top hierarchy clearly visible in their sights, Real Madrid completed a great campaign with 93 points – three points above Barcelona. Delight at the Cibeles followed the triumph!
Determination, graft and star display were the main idioms in this glory. But one man was phenomenal at all stages for the Whites: Cristiano Ronaldo!
Indeed, his colleagues showed star quality but the key man presented super star quality. As the leader he really is, out of Real Madrid’s 104 goals in the Spanish Primera Division, Ronaldo scored 25. The highest in the team’s scorers chart in just 29 appearances. That’s 0.86 goals per game.
Which teams were victims of Cristiano’s “Special 25”?
With much interest to specifics, we detail Ronaldo’s 25 goals for our cherished readers.
Ronaldo showed such a great forward he is. Only three goals were scored outside the 18-yard box (Atletico Madrid, Deportivo Alaves and Malaga) with 22 goals scored in the box. CR7 has transformed from that lit speed winger to a prolific wing cum centre forward.
• Ronaldo’s right foot – ten goals
*1 goal vs Osasuna (5-2, 6’ minute)
*1 goal vs Real Betis (6-1, 78’ minute)
*2 goals vs Deportivo Alaves (4-1, 33’ and 88’ minute)
*1 goal vs Atletico Madrid (0-3, 77’ minute)
*1 goal vs Sporting Gijon (2-1, 18’ minute)
*1 goal vs Real Sociedad (3-0, 51’ minute)
*1 goal vs Osasuna (1-3, 24’ minute)
*1 goal vs Sevilla (4-1, 23’ minute)
*1 goal vs Malaga (1-2, 2’ minute)
• Ronaldo’s left foot – three goals
*1 goal vs Sevilla (4-1, 78’ minute)
*2 goals vs Celta Vigo (10’ and 48’ minute)
• Ronaldo’s headers – five goals
*1 goal vs Granada (5-0, 27’ minute)
*1 goal vs Valencia (1-2, 44’ minute)
*1 goal vs Las Palmas (3-3, 89’ minute)
*1 goal vs Real Betis (2-1, 41’ minute)
*1 goal vs Valencia (2-1, 27’ minute)
• How many free-kicks?
One. A crucial one that was part of his hat-trick. It was against city rivals Atletico Madrid in the 23rd minute at the Vicente Calderon.
• Ronaldo’s penalty goals – six goals
*1 goal vs Las Palmas (3-3, 86’ minute)
*1 goal vs Villarreal (3-2, 74’ minute)
*1 goal vs Sevilla (1-2, 12’ minute)
*1 goal vs Sporting Gijon (2-1, 5’ minute)
*1 goal vs Atletico Madrid (3-0, 71’ minute)
*1 goal vs Deportivo Alaves (4-1, 17’ minute)
Ronaldo finished third in the 2016/17 Pichichi race behind Lionel Messi (37) and Luis Suarez (29). Unbothered, however, as he kept his firepower for the UEFA Champions League where he produced the greatest ever individual comeback. The 32-year-old talisman went from 11-2 down to beat Lionel Messi 12-11 in the UCL topscorers chart en route to La Duodecima.
