TOP MAN
Humble Cristiano Ronaldo is handed Juventus captain's armband… but gives it to Matuidi as he's been there longer
Alex Terrell
16 Dec 2019, 7:48
Updated: 16 Dec 2019, 8:45
CRISTIANO RONALDO refused to take the captain's armband and instead handed it to Blaise Matuidi as a mark of respect after skipper Juventus Leonardo Bonucci was subbed off against Udinese.
The Portuguese star, 34, landed two goals of his own to set an incredible personal record in the 3-1 win.
Cristiano Ronaldo gave the captain's armband to Blaise Matuidi as a mark of respect after Leonardo Bonucci was subbed offCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Ronaldo gave Matuidi a hug after handing him the skipper's armbandCredit: Getty Images - Getty
But he had the presence of mind to give the armband to ace Blaise Matuidi, 32, when defender Bonucci was taken off in the 75th minute.
The French midfielder has been at the Serie A club since 2017 and Ronaldo recognised that as he turned down the chance to skipper the Old Lady himself.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star scored two of his own in the win at the Allianz Stadium.
And in doing so he set a stunning record of scoring double figures in 15 consecutive seasons at a top European league.
That makes it 11 in 19 appearances for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and continues a trend he began in the 2005-06 season.
He said: "The most important thing was to win. This is how we should play, with confidence.
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"Individual performances aren't what matters, but the collective effort."
Both summer signings Aaron Ramsey and Matthijs de Ligt were unused substitutes and the Welshman has not played since Juve's 2-2 draw with Sassuolo on December 1.
Meanhwhile, Ronaldo's neighbour revealed he is "ideal" to live next door to after settling into life in Turin, 18 months after moving to the Serie A giants.
Cristiano Ronaldo loses his cool in Juventus training and smashes three balls into the air