Cristiano Ronaldo Returning To Form in Time To Overtake Lionel Messi and Co.

Cristiano Ronaldo returned from a lengthy hamstring injury just in time to all but assure Real Madrid make the Champions League semifinal.  A 4-0 thrashing means Tottenham's fairytale cup run is all but over. 

A player of Ronaldo's caliber isn't accustomed to not being in limelight while on the field.  Against Tottenham, RG7 (Raul González) claimed more praise from the Bernabeu faithful than CR7.  While fans were applauding Raul's part in the 5-2 demolition of former Champions League winners Inter Milan, Ronaldo was hard at work ensuring Real Madrid ease into the semifinals where Barcelona will likely be waiting.

Ronaldo did not even score the most spectacular goal, as Emmanuel Adebayor's towering header and Angel di Maria's left-footed laser stole the highlights.  Ronaldo was not even the most influential player for Madrid.  Mesut Ozil deservedly won the man of the match award for pulling the strings in Madrid's midfield.

Although Cristiano Ronaldo may not yet be at his best, his display against Tottenham should serve as a reminder to all the people who seem to have forgotten about him.  The mesmerizing skills of Messi and killer passes of Barcelona, tend to give many people the perception that Ronaldo isn't having a stellar season.  Ronaldo's strike against Tottenham took his total tally to 37 for the season, which still leaves him short of equaling Messi's 45 for the season.

Messi is often viewed more as the Peyton Manning of football, whereas Ronaldo is regarded as the Chad Ochocinco of football.  While Messi is certainly impressive, it took him almost twice as long to score as many goals for Barcelona as Ronaldo has scored for Madrid in his two seasons.

Many will have viewed the last meeting between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as a match to be determined by the two footballing immortals.  Many people saw this match as Ronaldo vs. Messi, as opposed to Real Madrid vs. Barcelona.  While the 5-0 scoreline was humbling to Real Madrid, it did little in curtailing the drive to be No. 1 that elevates Ronaldo to the next level.

As a Manchester United fan, watching Ronaldo scissor and slice up the Tottenham flanks brought back memories of the Portuguese winger tearing up opponents on the Old Trafford ground he became a legend on.  Ronaldo's header against Roma in 2008 and 40-yard thunderstruck shot against FC Porto in 2009 are synonymous with the quality many have come to expect from the winger.

Ronaldo may still not be at his best yet, but against Tottenham, Ronaldo looked driven, while remaining humble.  I did not see any excessive complaining; I did not see him whining when things didn't go his way, nor did I see a player who doesn't like to play with the rest of his team.  I saw a player determined to retake center stage for all the right reasons.

Assuming that the miracle at White Hart Lane does not happen, and Barcelona prove to-be-to much for Shakhtar Donetsk, Ronaldo will get another chance on the worlds biggest club footballing stage to showcase his talents against Messi and co.. 

This will be the match for Ronaldo to reassert himself as the world's greatest talent.  I, for one, do not expect Ronaldo to be overshadowed this time around.