As we eagerly await the return of world football, we’re taking this opportunity to look back on some of the most memorable goals ever scored. Going frame by frame, we’ll dissect how, exactly, these epic moments came to fruition.

Who, what, and when?

• Goalscorer: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
• Match: Juventus vs. Real Madrid
• Competition: Champions League (round of 16, first leg)
• Date: April 3, 2018

As the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, Cristiano Ronaldo naturally has several doozies in his Rolodex to pick from. None, however, are more memorable than the instantly famous bicycle kick he delivered against his current side, Juventus, at the Allianz Stadium back in 2018.

In case you haven’t already seen it 1,000 times, here’s the goal:

Going frame by frame, it’s fascinating to see all the little machinations that came together to create this jaw-dropping moment.

Here’s how Ronaldo, who was in the midst of a red-hot run that saw him score 19 goals in just nine matches for Real Madrid, produced one of the most unforgettable tallies in Champions League history.

Chiellini and Buffon get flustered

The entire sequence looks innocuous enough to begin with. A long cross-field ball from Marcelo seeks out Ronaldo but doesn’t find its mark. As it skips off the wet surface and bounces toward the Juventus penalty area, veteran duo Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon appear to have everything under control.

At this point, Chiellini, who’s never been shy about launching a clearance into the stratosphere when under pressure, has two options. He can send the ball into orbit and allow his teammates to regain their defensive structure, or he can shield the ball from Ronaldo and allow his goalkeeper to collect it, ending the threat right there. Easy enough, right?

It should’ve been:

Instead, in a rare moment of panic, the defender gets squirrelly. Having played together for what feels like an eternity, you’d think the two grizzled Italians would handle situations like this in their sleep. But there’s a moment of hesitation, and Chiellini, in trying to make a last-second clearance, meekly pokes the ball into the corner, away from Buffon but not far enough to get out of play:

This is where everything falls apart for the vaunted Juventus backline, and where Ronaldo shows off his goalscoring instincts inside the penalty area.

Mad scramble

The Portuguese star doesn’t have the same raw pace that he once did – even going back a couple of years – but he tracks the ball down before it crosses the line. Buffon’s out of his goal, while Chiellini and defensive partner Andrea Barzagli are retreating frantically to cover the suddenly gaping net:

Ronaldo finds the onrushing Lucas Vazquez, whose left-footed effort is acrobatically palmed away by a leaping Buffon – not bad for someone who, at the time, was on the verge of his 40th birthday. Of course, that wasn’t the end of the danger.

It’s important to note Ronaldo’s positioning after he lays the ball back to Vazquez. In the furor of the play, Ronaldo, incredibly, gets lost by the Juventus defenders:

If there was one player you’d think you would always be aware of …

Losing your marker

After Buffon’s save, the ball rebounds to Dani Carvajal. By this point, Juventus have largely regained a solid defensive structure and, on the surface, appear to be in pretty good shape. I mean, they’ve got six defenders in the box, compared to just three Real Madrid attackers.

The issue, of course, is that both Barzagli and Mattia De Sciglio seem nonplussed by the fact that Ronaldo is hanging out in the penalty area, practically by himself. It’s wild when you say it out loud – this is one of the most prolific scorers of all time, after all – but when watching the sequence over and over again, that’s the most stunning takeaway. As was the case with Chiellini and Buffon earlier, the apparent lack of communication between Barzagli and De Sciglio is staggering:

Throughout the entire sequence, this is the only time Barzagli looks over his shoulder to check on Ronaldo’s position:

Seeing his Real Madrid counterpart behind him, he instantly starts backpedaling in an effort to get on the goal side of the attacker. Ronaldo, meanwhile, makes a break for the penalty area. Simultaneously, the two men spring in different directions:

A quick aside: Had Carvajal lofted the ball to the back post, this entire sequence of play – interesting as it was in showcasing how forwards try to exploit spaces inside the box – would have fizzled out and been lost to history. Instead, he delivered the ball right to the penalty spot. Prior to this memorable tally, Ronaldo had been trying to score this exact goal for years, with little success. There’s every reason to believe this had been choreographed in training many times.

Okay, back to the breakdown. De Sciglio, who had to keep one eye on Vazquez lurking near the top of the box, recognizes what’s about to happen with Ronaldo about a fraction too late. He makes a late effort to reach the ball first, but it’s in vain, and he gets posterized in the process.

More importantly, look where Barzagli and Ronaldo end up as the latter is just about to make contact with the cross. They’ve basically swapped positions:

Thanks for coming out, Mattia:

In the end, a series of unlikely defensive breakdowns create the opportunity, and Ronaldo takes full advantage.

The reaction shots

And now for the most amusing (and enjoyable) part of it all. There are three notable reactions in the following shot alone – from Barzagli, Buffon, and Isco, who saunters into the top of the frame:

The Juventus netminder is rooted to his spot. It’s part exasperation – his great save just seconds ago was all for naught – and part shock. Isco can’t believe what’s just happened, as evidenced by his hand-on-head response. But the Oscar goes to the bemused Barzagli, who simply throws up his arms and admits defeat:

What can you do in that situation? Nothing, except applaud a superhuman athletic feat, which is exactly what the Juventus supporters did en masse. Whether that ovation actually helped in Ronaldo’s decision to later join the Italian club, as he’s claimed, is up for debate, but it certainly didn’t hurt.

The final word here goes to Zinedine Zidane, the Real Madrid manager who knows a thing or two about crafting memorable Champions League moments. This is someone widely credited with delivering the most iconic goal in the history of the tournament, and even he was absolutely floored by Ronaldo’s bicycle kick.

That may be the most impressive thing about all of this.

With the soccer calendar on hold, theScore’s editors took the opportunity to go back in history. Gordon Brunt, Michael Chandler, Anthony Lopopolo, Gianluca Nesci, and Daniel Rouse participated in a standard fantasy mock draft with just one stipulation: active players can’t be selected. The term “legend,” like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Other mock drafts: Current players | Young stars (April 27)

Round 1

Analysis: No surprises here. After Diego Maradona and Pele went first and second overall, respectively, there were myriad ways the rest of this could’ve unfolded, but it was virtually impossible to make a bad pick in the opening round with so many legendary players available.

Round 2

Analysis: The mind games began early. Brunt, knowing that Arsenal icon Thierry Henry was coveted by another participant, takes full advantage of the snake format and snaps him up. The Frenchman’s probably gone higher than he should have, but that’s the leap you have to make when dealing with back-to-back picks followed by lengthy waits.

Round 3

Analysis: The differing strategies are coming to light. Lopopolo’s gone all-in on firepower through the opening three rounds – that attacking trio is spectacular – while everyone else has selected at least one defender. There are a million different ways you could go here.

Round 4

Analysis: In one fell swoop, Brunt changes the dynamic of the draft and solidifies his full-back positions by taking Brazilian icons Roberto Carlos and Cafu with consecutive selections. In response, two more full-backs are taken in the round. Considering how thin, relatively speaking, the right- and left-back positions are compared to other areas on the field, it’s a solid approach.

Round 5

Analysis: In scooping up prolific German striker Gerd Muller, Rouse continues with his balanced approach. “Der Bomber” getting on the end of service from the likes of Johan Cruyff and Xavi is a tantalizing prospect. Elsewhere, Rivaldo’s selection ensures that Brazil continues to be well-represented. There’s a reason the Selecao have won more World Cups than anybody else.

Round 6

Analysis: Outside of Romario – another Brazilian, by the way – this round is all about the defenders. Ashley Cole may raise a few eyebrows at first glance, but for many years left-back was the position where clubs tried to hide their weakest link, which created a relative dearth of stars over time.

Round 7

Analysis: We’re at the point where everyone is starting to fill very specific needs. There are undoubtedly more talented players still available, but in the hopes of creating a lineup that could, in theory, actually function, positions like full-back and defensive midfield are addressed here by multiple participants.

Round 8

Analysis: Arjen Robben’s recent retirement puts him in contention, and this endeavor is better off because of it. Had the Dutch winger played in an era without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he’d be regarded as one of the greatest attackers ever. In Edgar Davids and Paul Scholes, meanwhile, we get a pair of combative legends who were feisty as they were talented.

Round 9

Analysis: Goalkeeper alert! Nesci gets the ball rolling between the sticks by grabbing Lev Yashin, widely regarded as the greatest netminder in the history of the sport; the “Black Spider” remains the only shot-stopper to ever win the Ballon d’Or, taking home the honor in 1963. The Russian is sandwiched by a pair of silky Brazilian midfielders.

Round 10

Analysis: Brunt grabbing Portuguese legend Eusebio in the 10th round represents the best value of the draft by some margin; the late Benfica star scored 473 goals in 440 competitive matches at the club. The prototypical modern striker, the Mozambique-born Eusebio won the Golden Boot in his only World Cup appearance in 1966. How was he still on the board?

Round 11

Analysis: Who the heck is William “Fatty” Foulke? Many tall tales have been told about the portly goalkeeper, who, despite weighing nearly 300 pounds by the end of his career in 1907, was known for being nimble and aggressive. We warned you off the top that “legend” is a subjective term, and Rouse certainly proves that with one of the final picks of the draft.

Bonus Round: Coaches

Analysis: Quite the collection of tacticians. A pair of Scottish titans, the Dutch mastermind credited with the invention of “Total Football,” a decorated Italian icon, and the innovative Hungarian who, in addition to boasting a remarkable life story, is responsible for one of the sport’s most legendary curses. If you’re not familiar with Bela Guttmann, you’re missing out.

Not Selected

Naturally, some of the greatest-ever players were going to miss out here. If we were to repeat this exercise, it’s entirely possible that some of those not selected would go in the opening few rounds. The likes of Ferenc Puskas, Marco van Basten, Raymond Kopa, George Best, Johan Neeskens, Jairzinho, Rivellino, and many, many more deserve a shoutout despite missing the cut.

Who was the most egregious snub? Have your say in the comments.

The Teams

Team Chandler

Guided by the pioneering, aggressive philosophy of Bela Guttmann on the touchline, it’s no surprise that this side is easily the most attacking of the bunch. Maradona and Platini in tandem behind Dennis Bergkamp is so exciting it’s almost absurd, while the wingers and full-backs will offer even more impetus going forward. Patrick Vieira will have to do the job of three people in midfield if Team Chandler loses the ball, but it’ll be so fun to watch.

Team Lopopolo

Pairing Pele with Alfredo Di Stefano up front should be illegal; we’re talking about two of the purest scoring threats the game has ever seen. And then you add the creativity of Roberto Baggio behind them. Spectacular stuff. There’s balance elsewhere in the squad, with a wonderful midfield blend of artful dribbling, drive, and suave playmaking ability. Great hair, too. Arrigo Sacchi dominated European football with his legendary AC Milan teams of the late 1980s. Imagine what he could accomplish with this XI.

Team Nesci

Sir Alex wouldn’t have to break out his infamous hairdryer treatment with this team. The Brazilian trio of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Garrincha makes you swoon. The latter pair would bamboozle defenders with their brilliant dribbling skills, teeing up “O Fenomeno,” who, at his peak, was literally unstoppable. Edgar Davids and Lothar Matthaus offer bite and balance in midfield, while the left-footed pair of Paolo Maldini and legendary Argentina captain Daniel Passarella form a classy, formidable duo at the heart of the backline.

Team Rouse

It’s only right that the squad featuring Cruyff is overseen by Rinus Michels. The revolutionary Dutchmen are the perfect headliners for a fluid team that would move freely and swiftly across the pitch. There’s a wonderful Brazilian connection on the right side – Carlos Alberto would have plenty of chances to replicate his epic goal from the 1970 World Cup final – while Franz Beckenbauer would be encouraged to gallop confidently out of the back with the ball at his feet, doing stepovers all the while.

Team Brunt

Jock Stein dominated Scottish football with Celtic, winning nine successive league titles from 1966-1974. He could dominate world football with this XI. Given the nature of this exercise, inevitably every team would be loaded up front. And yet, even in that context, there’s something particularly special about the five players lining up in attacking positions for Team Brunt. My word, what a quintet. And that’s to say nothing of the explosive Brazilian full-back duo on offer. Goals galore. You’d need a superhuman to cover for them defensively, which is exactly what Claude Makelele was in his prime.

Have Your Say

Vote for your favorite team below, and sound off in the comments!

As we continue to await the return of the Champions League – and sports in general – there’s no better time to look back on the past. Today, we’re ranking all the Champions League winners from the 21st century.

19. Liverpool (2005)

Liverpool’s epic comeback against AC Milan – the Miracle of Istanbul – is among the most stunning moments in football history, let alone in the Champions League. It will live on forever. But strictly from a talent perspective, this team was surprisingly underwhelming outside of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. Djimi Traore started in the final!

18. FC Porto (2004)

The shock factor here can’t be overstated. Prior to FC Porto’s unlikely triumph, it had been nine years since a club from outside Europe’s top five leagues won the premier continental trophy. It hasn’t happened since. Using a squad built almost exclusively around Portuguese products, the victory over AS Monaco in the final rocketed Jose Mourinho to prominence.

17. Real Madrid (2016)

Every champion has benefited, in one way or another, from some fortunate breaks on their title-winning journey. This Real Madrid team was a prime example. A cupcake draw smoothed the road to the final, where a missed offside call allowed Sergio Ramos to open the scoring against Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone must see those white Real kits in his nightmares.

16. AC Milan (2003)

AC Milan’s 2003 showpiece match against Italian rivals Juventus was easily one of the worst Champions League finals in living memory; the two teams combined for eight shots on target. Nonetheless, outside of the unremarkable Kakha Kaladze, this Milan squad was littered with iconic players at every position. Winning dull is still winning.

15. Chelsea (2012)

That Roberto Di Matteo actually masterminded this victory still boggles the mind, but it’s impossible to ignore the collection of memorable moments that led this Chelsea side to its first – and to date, only – Champions League title: the wild Napoli comeback, Fernando Torres’ goal against Barcelona, and, of course, Didier Drogba’s heroic header.

14. Real Madrid (2018)

Not unlike 2016, Real Madrid were on the right side of some hugely contentious moments, while Loris Karius’ horrific performance practically gifted Los Blancos their third successive crown. That said, their path to the final speaks for itself; Zidane and Co. beat the champions of France (Paris Saint-Germain), Italy (Juventus), and Germany (Bayern Munich) just to reach the final against Liverpool, who were no slouches themselves.

13. Bayern Munich (2001)

Bayern Munich overcame their traumatic 1999 defeat to Manchester United to hoist the trophy two years later. Germany legend Oliver Kahn was the hero in the final, but this was all about the run to the final, which saw Bayern beat United and Real Madrid en route to celebrating their fourth European conquest.

12. AC Milan (2007)

Two years after their harrowing – and historic – choke job in Turkey, Milan buried some of those demons by beating Liverpool in their rematch despite no longer having Andriy Shevchenko banging in goals. The reason his absence didn’t cripple the side was simple: Kaka. The Brazilian was at his elegant best in 2007, sweeping the individual awards, including the Ballon d’Or.

11. Barcelona (2006)

We’ll never know what would have happened had Arsenal ‘keeper Jens Lehmann not been sent off early in the final, but that shouldn’t distract from the biggest takeaway of that year’s tournament: Ronaldinho stole the show. Months removed from winning the Ballon d’Or, the Brazilian finished second in scoring in the 2005-06 tournament and tied for the lead in assists.

10. Real Madrid (2014)

In one fell swoop, Real Madrid ended their 12-year wait for Champions League success and kicked off a spell of continental dominance that would see them win four titles in five seasons. They scored 41 goals in 13 matches that year; Cristiano Ronaldo’s 17 tallies remain the most ever scored in a single Champions League campaign. Aside from the wild win over Atletico Madrid in the final, the destruction of Bayern Munich in the preceding round will live long in the memory.

9. Inter Milan (2010)

At a time when Barcelona’s possession-based style was heralded as the be-all and end-all, Jose Mourinho got a veteran Inter Milan squad to buy into his more rigid defensive scheme. Samuel Eto’o sacrificing his personal stats to play out wide epitomized this team, which claimed a memorable win over Barca in the semifinals before a Diego Milito-inspired victory in the final.

8. Manchester United (2008)

This would have all been moot were it not for a fateful John Terry slip, but it’s important to recognize how impressive this Manchester United team was. Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo led the line, while a gritty midfield crew buttressed the center-back pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, one of the great defensive duos of the modern era.

7. Real Madrid (2002)

The crowning achievement of Real Madrid’s first Galacticos era under Florentino Perez. The club’s next Champions League title – the vaunted “La Decima” – took over a decade to arrive, so this 2002 triumph needed to hold up for quite some time. Good thing, then, that the winning goal from Zinedine Zidane was arguably the most iconic in Champions League history.

6. Real Madrid (2017)

This spell of Real Madrid dominance was a peculiar period. Their three consecutive titles from 2016-18 were highlighted by moments of individual brilliance rather than collective excellence, but the 2017 side was the best of the bunch. The midfield trio of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro peaked, dominating in the 4-1 win over Juventus in the final.

5. Barcelona (2015)

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar – dubbed “MSN” – wreaked havoc after linking up. The megastars complemented one another perfectly, scoring 137 goals in the 2015 calendar year. Two of those came in the Champions League final, when Suarez and Neymar helped Barcelona sink Juventus. The midfield wasn’t too shabby, either.

4. Liverpool (2019)

A spectacular comeback win over Barcelona in the semifinal was the highlight of Liverpool’s 2019 run to glory. The attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane gobbled up most of the attention, but Jurgen Klopp’s side was truly a unified juggernaut, as evidenced by their incredible campaign in the following season.

3. Bayern Munich (2013)

Pedigree all across the pitch. Five players who started the Champions League final for Bayern Munich in 2013 took the pitch for Germany in the World Cup final the following year, with Philipp Lahm captaining both sides. Exceptionally balanced, Jupp Heynckes’ team really sparkled out wide, with the electrifying duo of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery the star attraction.

2. Barcelona (2009)

This wasn’t quite their final form, but my word, was it spectacular. Pep Guardiola built a fluid, dynamic, beautiful team in 2008-09. Lionel Messi was, well, Lionel Messi. The legendary midfield trio of Sergio Busquets, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta was entering its prime, and Thierry Henry added class up front. Yaya Toure lined up in central defense, with Carles Puyol at right-back, and they were still untouchable.

1. Barcelona (2011)

Two years after that indelible 2009 side changed the game, the 2011 edition of Barcelona perfected it. This team will go down as one of the greatest in the sport’s history. If anyone would know, it’s Sir Alex Ferguson, who, along with his players, was mesmerized by Guardiola’s squad. “In my time as a manager, I would say they’re the best team we’ve faced,” Ferguson admitted after United’s 3-1 loss in the final. “No one has given us a hiding like that.”