Superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo has played in the Welsh capital of Cardiff before, and not only when Real Madrid beat Sevilla to win the 2014 European Super Cup, with Ronaldo scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium.

A mile away -- and in a much better location in the heart of the city centre, between Cardiff Castle, the River Taff and the Georgian townhouses of Westgate Street -- stands the Millennium Stadium. Rebuilt to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the capacity has expanded from 58,000 to 74,500, and the new structure dominates the skyline, delighting visiting fans with its city centre location and scores of bars.

Ronaldo leads Real Madrid against Juventus on Saturday in the 2017 Champions League final at the Millennium Stadium (also known as Principality Stadium, and rebranded by UEFA for the final as the National Stadium of Wales).

When Wembley Stadium was closed in 2000 ahead of demolition, the English Football Association switched their biggest club games, including cup finals, to the Millennium Stadium between 2001 and 2006.

Manchester United made the journey there nine times, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing in four of the games and scoring in each of the three wins he played in. His first appearance was in the 2004 FA Cup final as United beat Millwall 3-0 after a tough run to the final; United defeated four Premier League teams on the way to a record 11th FA Cup. United's 12th came in 2016.

"Ronaldo was majestic in that match," said longtime United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, "scoring our first goal with a header before [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy added two, one from the penalty spot."

Former United star Roy Keane said there was pride throughout the team that day, a pride playing alongside such brilliant players. "Everyone enjoyed playing in the Millennium; it was a better stadium than the old Wembley," Keane said. "I'm from Mayfield [Cork]," he said, "and I'm playing with Ruud van Nistelrooy and all these lads -- Ronaldo, from Portugal. It's amazing that we're together. ... Our attitude was, in a nice way, 'F--- Millwall, we're Man United, we'll do what's right for us.' It was confidence, not arrogance."

Rested after Euro 2004, Ronaldo was not in the squad when United returned to Cardiff a few months later in August 2004, where they lost 3-1 to Arsenal in the Community Shield, but he would play twice for United again in Wales' biggest stadium that season.

First, United reached the 2005 FA Cup semifinal, where they defeated Newcastle United 4-1. Nicky Butt had joined the Geordies and was criticised by their fans for not appearing to be up for it against his former team, but Ferguson's side were superb, with Ronaldo crossing for Van Nistelrooy to open the scoring after 19 minutes; Van Nistelrooy repaid the favour by setting up the unmarked Portuguese on 76 minutes for United's fourth goal. Relations between the pair were frosty, though.

The 4-1 win against Newcastle set up a final against Arsenal, which was played only a week after the Glazer family completed their controversial takeover of United. So disgusted were many United fans that they wore black. United players focussed on the game, but lost on penalty kicks 5-4.

"We hammered them," said Keane, who was hit in the groin in the first minutes of the final. "[Wayne] Rooney and Ronaldo were outstanding. We should have won. But Arsenal hung in there -- it's a great trait to have." United was not a happy camp, but the Glazers were nothing to do with the issues.

"Van Nistelrooy had a horrible game," recalled Ferguson. "The previous Wednesday, his agent, Rodger Linse, had sought out [chief executive] David Gill and asked for a move. David pointed out that we had a cup final on Saturday and perhaps this wasn't the time for our main striker to ask for a move."

United kept Van Nistelrooy, who was angry because he felt the team was stagnating and couldn't win the European Cup with young players like Ronaldo and Rooney. There was trouble brewing between Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo, with the Dutchman singling Ronaldo out for criticism. They had altercations and shoving matches, but the matter became truly public only when Van Nistelrooy was dropped for the 2006 League Cup final in Cardiff against Wigan Athletic.

Ronaldo did start and scored to make it 3-0 in a 4-0 win after a disastrous piece of defending from former Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz, who cleared the ball to Louis Saha. The Frenchman slid a pass to Ronaldo on the left-hand edge of the Wigan penalty area. He shot across goalkeeper John Filan and then ran to the United fans and took his top off.

"We were playing a world-class side with world-class players," added Wigan boss Paul Jewell. "It was like a David against Goliath match, and United were absolutely clinical. We've lost to one of the most decorated sides in the world, and there's no shame in that."

United hasn't played in Cardiff since then, but they were ascendant, with Ronaldo rising not only to become their best player, but the finest player in the world. He was key as United won the Premier League in 2007 and again in 2008, when he was the first United player since the 1960s to be crowned European footballer of the year. He loved United and the fans who sang "Viva Ronaldo," but he never hid his desire to play for Real Madrid. Hard to take as it was, United let him go in 2009 for a then-record £80 million fee, paid in one single instalment.

Though vast, even that has proved to be a bargain, at £10 million per season so far, as he's been Madrid's best player in each of his eight seasons. He's won two more European Cups (2014 and 2016). In the stadium where he won his first trophy in England, he'll attempt to lead his side to become the first team in the Champions League era to retain that trophy.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by ANDY MITTEN

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