2002/03 Manchester United 4-3 Real Madrid: Report

The applause of a vanquished opponent always rings loudest in the memory and not even the most ardent Manchester United FC fan would deny Ronaldo was a deserving recipient at Old Trafford in April 2003.

The Real Madrid CF striker took his bow midway through the second half having dashed their dreams with a superb hat-trick – even if there was a sting in the tail.

Having lost the first leg 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the key to turning the quarter-final around had been keeping Ronaldo quiet. "We simply couldn't do it," he lamented. The Brazil striker was busy from the start, outstripping Rio Ferdinand to fire in a damaging away goal after only 12 minutes.

Ruud van Nistelrooy gave the home side a glimmer of hope before the interval with his 12th goal of the campaign – a UEFA Champions League record – but Ronaldo was not out of the spotlight for long. Moments after Luís Figo had rattled the bar, the 26-year-old tapped in Roberto Carlos's cross; only for team-mate Iván Helguera to put through his own net at the other end two minutes later.

Ronaldo was not to be denied, and any lingering United ambition ended before the hour when he flashed a stunning 25-metre drive past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez. The Old Trafford faithful were floored, their vision of reaching the final on home soil in tatters; but they rose as one to applaud off their conqueror as he made way for Santiago Solari with a quarter of the match remaining.

Yet United have a hard-earned reputation for never lying down. Their conviction and flair carried them to a remarkable 4-3 victory on the night as David Beckham, a surprise omission from the starting XI, came on to score twice. In the closing moments even the Madrid players seemed to believe Sir Alex's side were capable of the two further goals required.

Ronaldo's hat-trick was, however, deservedly decisive. "I'm never going to forget that ovation," he said. "I wouldn't call myself the main protagonist, though; the team worked together." Few in Manchester agreed with his modesty that night.