Cristiano Ronaldo scored an “NBA-style” goal to secure the victory for Juventus over Sampdoria on Wednesday night.
The heading goal occurred just before half-time with the game tied at 1-1.
Ronaldo ascended into the air like Michael Jordan and met a cross from Alex Sandro at the far post with a pinpoint header. The goal knocked Juventus to the top of the Serie A table with 42 points.
“I’m very happy with the result. It’s been a very difficult match against a Sampdoria team who played well. We managed to do even better and deservedly got this victory,” Ronaldo told AS.
Spacejam Ronaldo
The slow-motion replay of the goal shows just how high Ronaldo jumped and towered above the Sampdoria defender. According to ESPN FC, the Portuguese forward climbed a top height of 8 feet 4 inches, levitating 28 inches above the ground.
Sampdoria coach Claudio Ranieri remarked that “Ronaldo scored in NBA style – he was in the air for an hour and a half.”
The goal also left Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri in shock.
“When Ronaldo scored I thought the same as the Dybala one – ‘f***, wow,” Sarri said in the post-game news conference.
“But wow does not describe it all. They both scored two outstanding goals.
“[Dybala] chose a left-footed volley in a situation where 99 players out of 100 would stop the ball and then shoot.
“The [Ronaldo] one, I think the amount of time he spent in the air before the header was incredibly long – a wonderful, physical and technical action.”
This isn’t the first time Ronaldo has scaled to great heights to snatch a header. He’s done so for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Portugal.
The goal also marked the first time Ronaldo has scored in 5 straight matches for the Turin side.
Soon after the airborne header, the Messi crowd immediately contested Ronaldo’s stunning goal with an amazing header from the Barcelona man, Messi’s 2009 strike against Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Which one do you think is better? Let us know on Twitter.
