Say hello to Cristiano Ronaldo: Warrior-Diva.
The Real Madrid superstar added to his legend by suffering a gruesome eye injury, shaking it off and scoring a goal minutes later.
The action happened in the first half of Real Madrid’s La Liga game against Levante.
Ronaldo was elbowed by David Navarro as the veteran Levante defender jumped to challenge for a ball in the air. Ronaldo stayed on his feet as Navarro took flight, leaving his face in the line of fire. Navarro’s elbow caught Ronaldo above his left eye, opening up a large cut on the Portuguese attacker’s face. Blood was gushing from the wound, and the 27-year-old required treatment from his club’s cut-person.
Ronaldo returned to the game after the medical staff cleaned him up, and did what he does better than anyone (not named Lionel Messi). In the 21st minute, he scored the game’s first goal by pouncing on a loose ball in the area and hammering it home from close range. His eye was nearly swollen shut, and he had a large bandage above it, but that didn’t matter.
The former Manchester United star has been known to dabble in high-theater when he’s on the field, but his reputation could be changing. Last month, he scored against Barcelona while nursing a shoulder injury, and he again showed that fighter’s spirit with Sunday’s heroics.
See Ronaldo’s eye injury in the video below (warning: it contains graphic images).
See Ronaldo’s cyclops goal in the video below.
Click here for photos of Ronaldo’s girlfriend Irina Shayk>>
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Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@Alikaz93
