Ranking Cristiano Ronaldo’s Top 5 Goals vs Atletico Madrid

There are few things more satisfying than scoring against one of your most hated rivals. The sense of occasion leads to an incredible atmosphere and explosion of emotion that is only surpassed by winning a trophy. One player who is no stranger to feeling all of this is Cristiano Ronaldo. He's netted 15 times against Los Colchoneros and has made sure to rub it in Atletico's face every single time (whether through his now famous look at me celebration, weird squeezing thing- which is apparently "the bear", or by flexing his unreasonably big thigh muscles).

Criteria

It’s pretty simple; if the goal looks amazing it makes this list. Being in a final or big league match is just an added bonus.

5. Half-volley to keep Madrid first in the table – 2013/14 Season

With things looking rosy in Carlo Ancelotti’s first stint as manager (Real were at the top of the La Liga table), Madrid took a trip to the Vicente Calderon to face a real test in ability and strength of character. Benzema opened the scoring within minutes of the game, but Atletico Madrid soon took control with a goal from Koke and a long-range stunner from Gabi. With the second half coming to a close, Madrid kept pushing and pushing until finally they found a breakthrough through a predictable culprit. Carvajal won the ball back from Atletico and drove in a cross to Bale. The Welshman touched it down for Ronaldo to smash home a brilliant half volley into the side netting. Madrid didn’t win that day, but Ronaldo’s last gasp equalizer ensured Los Blancos stayed at the top of the table for another day.

4. Header in the Copa del Rey Final – 2012/13 Season

Madrid entered the Copa del Rey final with the confidence of being unbeaten against their derby rivals for over a decade and with the home ground advantage at the Bernabeu. These factors seemed to spur the Whites on as Ronaldo battled away Godin and leaped into the air to dispatch a header with pinpoint accuracy. He continued to be a menace to Atletico’s defense and almost scored an under-the-wall free kick near the end of normal time. But things all went wrong as Ronaldo endured an unceremonious sending off and Atletico Madrid won in extra time. Nevertheless the quality of the goal and its appearance in a big final is what gets it on this list

3. Ronaldo hits a stunner from open play – 2011/12 Season

As Madrid prepared a visit to the Vicente Calderon things couldn’t be much worse. Under pressure due to 3 draws in the last 5 games (against the likes of Malaga, Villarreal, and Valencia), Real Madrid were in a real danger of giving up the title. But Ronaldo came big when Madrid needed him most and smashed in an audacious hat-trick. One of those was truly stunning (well two of them were, but we’ll get to the other one later). With the game tied in the 68^th, Ronaldo received the ball on the left-wing from and smashed the ball from an impossible angle into the net. The ball had so much dip on it that it went over Courtois and towards the middle of the net. The goal was pure quality and Ronaldo squeezed the air in that weird "bear" celebration after pointing to his jacked out thighs. Love him or hate him.

2. One of the best free kicks ever scored – 2012/13 Season

With much of the La Liga season underway, Madrid welcomed their city rivals to the Bernabeu. Revitalized by Simeone’s newfound passion and tactics, Atletico found themselves ahead of Los Blancos in the La Liga table. Thus it was vital that Madrid came away with the three points not only to make sure they were second, but also to put Atletico back in their place. Ronaldo got Madrid off to a great start by striking in a free kick from a good 25 yards away from goal. The ball had so much dip that it cleared the wall with ease and nestled into the bottom corner of Courtois’s goal. Iker Casillas’s reaction directly afterwards was priceless. He looked straight ahead with his chin tilted up, blew out with his cheeks, and then raised his eyebrows as if to say, "glad I chose Real Madrid and not Atletico Madrid."

1. Ronaldo makes the commentator eat his words – 2012/12 Season

In the middle of the 24^th minute, Ronaldo lined up 35 meters away from goal in his peculiar stance. After the commentator claimed that Ronaldo had been a bit erratic that year with his free kicks, Ronaldo proceeded to smash a goal that had so much dip, power, and accuracy, that Courtois was left rooted to the spot with his shoulders sagging. Ray Hudson summed up all our thoughts by describing this goal as "not just a dream, but a wet dream of orgasmic proportions!" You go Ray Hudson.

Here's all the goals Ronaldo's scored vs Atletico Madrid