Cristiano Ronaldo sets Champions League goals record, celebrates in kind

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his record-setting 15th goal in the Champions League this season. (Matthias Schrader/AP) Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name in
Cristiano Ronaldo sets Champions League goals record, celebrates in kind
Cristiano Ronaldo sets Champions League goals record, celebrates in kind /

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his record-setting 15th goal in the Champions League this season. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo etched his name in Champions League lore Tuesday, with his goal that was orchestrated by Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale off an expert counterattack giving him 15 in this season's edition -- the most ever in a single European cup competition.

The goal broke a tie with Lionel Messi and Jose Altafini, and it's not like Ronaldo, who is fresh off scoring two tremendous goals over the weekend, didn't know it.

The reigning Ballon d'Or winner celebrated by flashing a high-10 and high-5 repeatedly, letting everybody know that he was up to 15 goals during what has been an epic Champions League run. He wasn't done, either. In the waning moments of the game, Ronaldo laced a low free kick by a helpless Manuel Neuer for his 16th goal of the campaign. With 66 goals all-time in the competition, Ronaldo remains five  goals behind Real Madrid icon Raul's all-time record of 71 (Messi is also making a charge for the crown, with 67 of his own).

Watch Ronaldo's record-setting goal, ensuing celebration and series-capping effort, below (via Fox Soccer):

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Avi Creditor
AVI CREDITOR

Avi Creditor is a senior editor and has covered soccer for more than a decade. He’s also a scrappy left back.