Well sure, that's understandable enough.
But likewise few will remember who scored the winning penalty in this shoot-out either. Usually the ones who miss are remembered the most, wouldn't you say? I can easily remember Baggio, Terry and Ramos and their "iconic" misses, but the decisive penalties? Hell, be honest, did you know that Antonín Panenka's "panenka" was the winning penalty in the shoot-out in the 1976 Euro Final against the then reigning European champs West-Germany? I doubt there's many today who are familiar with the context of it and that's about as iconic a pen as you'll get at such a stage...
Further on topic. Media ratings of his performance.
Dailymail
Ronaldo, 7
Worked as hard as Bale in tracking back every time Real lost possession but over-elaborated too often most tellingly just before Atletico scored. Still ended up the hero.
Independent
Cristiano Ronaldo: 5 out of 10
Quiet in the extreme. Caught for free-kick but left duties to Bale and was off the pace throughout. Wasted two chances before Atletico’s leveller and had weak headed effort easily caught by Oblak in extra time.
Mirror
Cristiano Ronaldo 5 – Was he on the pitch? Did not do much apart from miss a relatively simple chance.
Somehow he had the last laugh - and lost his shirt in the process.
BBC (courtesy of Jermaine Jenas apparently)
Cristiano Ronaldo (forward) 6
Did not do much throughout the game but ended up scoring the winning penalty for his third Champions League title.
Mundo Deportivo
CRISTIANO 1 star out of 5
Afortunado : Tuvo nulo contacto con el balón, bastante menos que el que encontró Bale. Tras una final invisible para el portugués, se quedará sin duda con la foto del partido, al marcar el penalti decisivo.
--
Lucky : Barely touched the ball, far less than Bale. After an invisible final by the Portuguese he will undoubtedly stay in the picture of the match by scoring the decisive penalty.
La Vanguardia
Cristiano (5)
(casi)invisible : Desaparecido durante 120 minutos, cada balón que tocó era una pérdida para su equipo. Sin embargo, convirtió el penalti decisivo que le da su tercera Champions.
--
(near-)invisible : Gone missing for 120 minutes, each ball he touched was a loss for his team. However, he converted the decisive penalty that gave him his third CL.
AS
Cristiano, 1 ace out of 4
Extrañamente impreciso en los controles. No tuvo su mejor día. No se le puede achacar nada a la hora de ayudar al equipo a defender. Perdonó una ocasión ante Oblak por intentar hacer una filigrana y hacerlo más bonito en lugar de efectivo. Falló ocasiones en las que no suele perdonar.Marcó el penalti decisivo y dio la Undécima.
--
Strangely imprecise controls on the ball. Didn't have his best day. Can't be faulted when it came to defending for the team. Wasted a chance against Oblak by trying to make his mark with something cute instead of being effective. Failed on chances he usually doesn't. Scored the decisive penalty and delivered the 11th CL.
L'Equipe
C. RONALDO : 3
Comment dire ? Agaçant semble le terme le plus juste. Pendant longtemps avec ses coups du foulard, ses passes aveugles et ses ballons gardés, il a été loin du niveau qu’on lui connaît. Un tout petit peu mieux sur la fin malgré, là encore, quelques gourmandises coupables (78e). Il n’a pas tremblé pour marquer le tir au but décisif. La lumière qu’il apprécie.
--
How to describe it ? Annoying seems the most correct word. For a long time in this match with his rabonnas, his blind passes and his safe balls, he was far from the level we know him to be capable of. A little bit better near the end despite, once more, being guilty of some misplaced cuteness (78th minute). He didn't tremble when scoring the decisive kick. He likes the spotlight.
FourFourTwo (magazine)
Cristiano Ronaldo - His match-winning penalty should not overshadow a disappointing performance from a player who did not look to be at full fitness.
5
ESPN
FW Cristiano Ronaldo, 6 -- Michael Cox
wrote this week that Ronaldo needed a career-defining performance. This wasn't it. Was he 100 percent fit? It's doubtful. Should Zidane have replaced him before extra time? Absolutely. The Portuguese rarely threatened and seemed just a yard or two off the pace from the outset. His one decent chance was fired straight at Oblak and a half-chance from a header deflected onto a defender and into the grateful arms of the Atletico keeper. Still, Ronaldo was needed to finish things off and did so, although he might have kept the shirt on this time.
BT Sport
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Quiet and largely ineffective, outshone in all departments by Bale. Scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out.
6.
Couldn't find anything from the Guardian, Times, Marca, etc.
My Spanish and French translations were a bit hasty so if any native speakers want to correct, feel free!
