Cristiano Ronaldo thanked Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidanefor a halftime team talk that fired the Spanish club to a 4-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Juventus were still hopeful of winning the trophy for the first time in 21 years as they reached the interval at 1-1, but Real found several extra gears to streak away and become the first club in the Champions League era to lift the trophy in successive seasons.
Ronaldo underscored his status as Europe’s most lethal striker with the first and third goals as Real were crowned champions of Europe for a record-extending 12th time.
His career total in all competitions now stands at 600, a record 108 of which have come in the Champions League.
“I prepared myself for this, you win the biggest prizes because of what you do at the end of the season,” Ronaldo, who has benefited from playing fewer games than in previous campaigns, said as his teammates celebrated.
“Zidane gave us a very positive halftime team talk and told us he really believed in us,” the Portuguese added.
“It has been an incredible end to the season by us. We are the first team to win it two years in a row and I scored two goals. It’s another record for us and the players deserve it and so do I because I scored twice and I’m the top scorer in the Champions League.”
Isco, who kept Cardiff-born Gareth Bale out of the starting line-up, described it as Real’s best performance of the season as they outclassed Italian champions Juventus in the second half.
“The first half was really tough, against a brilliant team in every aspect, but in the second half we saw the best performance from Real Madrid all season,” he said
Veteran Juve keeper Gianluigi Buffon’s hopes of becoming the oldest player to win the trophy were crushed by a ruthless Madrid side and his chances of adding a Champions League winners’ medal to his collection of silverware now look slim.
“We are disappointed. We played very well in the first half, we thought we had enough to win the game,” the 39-year-old said.
“I cannot explain why we played like we did in the second half. Real Madrid deserved to win in the second half.
“They showed their class and the attitude needed to play in this kind of game.”
Local boy Bale made a late cameo appearance, coming on for Karim Benzema in the 77th minute with the job done.
“It’s been a hard season, but I’ve worked hard and didn’t think I would make the final but I worked tirelessly at home and this is the reward.