January: 300 club goals
Cristiano Ronaldo started the year on a high note as he hit the milestone of 300 club goals throughout his career. He netted a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s rout of Getafe 4-0 on 27 January to reach his 300th club goal.
February: First own goal
For the first time in his 11 seasons as a professional player, Ronaldo scored in his own goal with a header as Diego Lopez nets a clumsy attempt to clear a corner. Granada won the game 1-0.
But it was not all bitter that month as the Portuguese became the first player to score in six straight ‘Clasicos’ away from home. The Real Madrid winger scored twice in their 3-1 away win against Barcelona in the King's Cup semi-final second leg.
March: Return to Old Trafford
1406 days after leaving United, Ronaldo has to be back to the Theatre of Dreams at Old Trafford to play his old team Manchester United in round 16 of the UEFA Champions League. It was an emotional return and he received a warm welcome from the audience and commentators. But that night of 5th March he didn’t give them any favors as he scored in Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory that sealed a 3-2 aggregate win.
April: Champions League upset
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid, aiming to become kings of Europe for the 10th time, foiled a dramatic fightback by Galatasaray to reach the Champions League semi-finals. However they were stunned by German heavyweights Dortmund on a 4-3 aggregate during the semis.
May: 200-Landmark goal for Real
CR7 scored his 200th goal for Real Madrid when he netted an indirect free kick in a 6-2 rout to Malaga on 8 May.
June: Season ends in style
The Portuguese forward ended his season on a high note before going on holidays to Miami as he scored the only goal of the game for his country in a friendly against Croatia 1-0.
July: Lethal free kicks
Ronaldo began the pre-season in amazing form. Against Bournemouth, he opened scoring with a powerful direct free kick to complete a total of 21 goals scored off direct free kicks since joining the Merengues in 2009 (NB: He stands now at 23).
During that same game he fired another one that missed the target but went on to break the wrist of an 11-year old kid. Charlie Silverwood, who watched the game from the stands, was hit by a 35-yard rocket and fractured his wrist in two places but insisted on watching the game until the end. "It's one of the most spectacular ways you can get your arm broken. I'd have to say I'd prefer doing it this way then just falling out of a tree like my dad did it," he said. Real Madrid sent a signed shirt to Charlie via Bournemouth legend Steve Fletcher as an apology.
August: A brace against Mourinho
Just a few weeks after been split apart, Ronaldo faced off with coach Jose Mourinho who left Real Madrid for Chelsea. There had been a bit of tension in the air as Mourinho made some comments on Ronaldo, saying he handled a lot from the big star and that the Real ace thought he knew it all. Cristiano responded with two goals to help Real beat Chelsea 3-1 in the final of the warm-up tournament; the Guiness International Champions Cup.
September: Beating Eusebio
After scoring a hat-trick against Northern Ireland 4-2 in the World Cup qualifiers on 6 September, Ronaldo beat Eusebio to go second on Portugal's list of top marksmen. Back then, he jumped to 43 goals surpassing the 41 goals set by Eusebio. Now he is shares the top spot with Pauleta with 47 goals as he scored four more goals later on in December against Sweden.
The 28-year old winger also agreed a contract extension with Real Madrid until 2017 for a reported 17 million euros annual salary.
October: A salute to Blatter
Cristiano reacted to comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in his own way. Ronaldo celebrated his penalty by offering a military salute before going on to complete a hat-trick in Real Madrid rout of Sevilla 7-3 on 31 October. Blatter earlier said that Ronaldo resembled "a commander on the field of play." He also said that Ronaldo "has more expenses for the hairdresser" than Messi and that he personally prefers Messi.
November: Portugal World Cup hero
Ronaldo netted an amazing hat-trick to lead Portugal to a crucial 3-2 win against Sweden in the World Cup qualifiers playoffs and to qualify his country for their fourth straight World Cup finals. Portugal won the home leg 1-0 courtesy to a well-placed header from the golden number 7.
December: Champions League record
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score nine goals in the group stage of the Champions League after scoring for Real Madrid against FC Copenhagen 2-0 in the last round of the Groupstage matches on Tuesday 12 December. His nine-goal tally in only five games beat the record held by Inter's Hernan Crespo in 2002/03, AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi in 2002/03, Manchester United's Ruud Van Nistelrooy 2004/05 and PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had each scored eight goals in the group stage.
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