Cristiano Ronaldo Has Been "The Master" But Is His Champions League Career Now Over?

As Manchester United tamely exited Europe on Tuesday, there was one big question. Will Cristiano Ronaldo ever play in the Champions League again?

Was that Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League farewell?

The 37-year-old is a five-time winner of European club soccer's top tournament but he won't be lifting the famous trophy this season.

Manchester United now face a tough battle against the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham just to qualify for next season's Champions League.

So it seems entirely plausible, perhaps even likely, that Tuesday's tame 1-0 home defeat by Atletico Madrid could be the last time we see Ronaldo in the UCL.

If indeed this was Ronaldo's Champions League swansong then what a disappointing way to end such an memorable relationship.

0 - For only the third time in his Champions League career, Cristiano Ronaldo tonight played 90+ minutes in a match in the competition without having a single shot; the others were for Man Utd v Panathinaikos in November 2003, and for Real Madrid v Barcelona in May 2011. Blank. pic.twitter.com/zTCG9e4Scg

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 15, 2022

Four days earlier, he scored the 59th hat-trick of his glittering career by bullying Tottenham's defenders in a record-setting 3-2 win.

But Atletico's defense was not in the mood to be bullied by the aging GOAT.

Ronaldo had scored Champions League hat-tricks against Atletico for Real Madrid and Juventus, but he was not even able to register a single shot against on Wednesday.

There was one moment in the second half when he threatened to steal the show.

Cristiano Ronaldo fires a bicycle kick towards goal before being flagged for offside :: IMAGO/Martin Rickett

Ronaldo soared in the air to fire a bicycle kick towards goal, but it was in vain. Not only did Jan Oblak stop the ball, Ronaldo was flagged for offside.

That was as good as it got for United and Ronaldo, who applauded the fans as he trudged off the pitch with his head bowed.

This may well be how his Champions League career ends, but it won't be how it will be remembered.

Ronaldo has played more Champions League matches (187) than any other player.

Ronaldo applauds United's fans at Old Trafford after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid :: IMAGO/Martin Rickett

Ronaldo has scored more Champions League goals (141) than any other player.

He has even produced more Champions League assists (42) than any other player.

In the famous words of the famous Champions League anthem, Ronaldo has been "the master, the best".

Ronaldo celebrates winning his fifth Champions League in 2018 :: IMAGO/Maurice van Steen