[VIDEO PICK: Golazos] Cristiano Ronaldo scores a beautiful opening goal while seeing out of only one eye in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win on a waterlogged field at Levante on Sunday.

Lionel Messi and Ronaldo are inextricably linked. Messi scored two goals in Barcelona’s win on Sunday to pass Pele for second most goals in a calendar year, but we expected that. Something you don’t expect is for Ronaldo to take an elbow like this, stay on the field, and then score a gorgeous volley when he can’t even see out of his left eye.

Madrid won with a late goal by Alvaro Morata in the 84th minute, Ronaldo was taken off at halftime, but he may have made his best case for the Ballon d’Or he covets so badly with the toughness he showed in the first 45 minutes on a nearly unplayable field at Levante.

Just two minutes in Cristiano takes a vicious elbow from Levante’s David Navarro that leaves one of the world’s best players in dire need of an experienced boxing cut man. It’s not pretty …


Ronaldo seriously injured by goalsarena2012

The Portugese superstar earns some respect from his teammates, and plaudits from critics, as he stayed on the field long enough to score this beautiful opening goal in the 21st minute with one eye, and a bit of improvisation, on this deflected free kick. Watch as the water goes flying off the top of the net ...