Cristiano Ronaldo wore white the last time a team tried to make history by becoming the first to win the Champions League back to back.

Rather than the colours of Los Blancos it was the white of a Manchester United away shirt in 2009 as he crouched on the Rome pitch in frustration and glared at the blaugrana-clad Barcelona players accepting the coveted cup.

If a subplot of the Rome final was between the two creative superstars, then he was most certainly the bridesmaid on Lionel Messi’s big day.

It had all been so different a year before when Ronaldo was the star for Manchester United in the Moscow rain, leaping high to plant a magnificent header in the Chelsea goal to put Sir Alex Ferguson’s side ahead. Granted Ronaldo missed United’s spot-kick in the shootout victory but his overall performance was far superior to the anonymous Wayne Rooney.

It was from the spot that Cristiano Ronaldo made Champions League final amends last season, his calm and composed penalty sending Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak the wrong way to achieve Real Madrid’s 11th European Cup triumph.

This isn’t the place for the great Ronaldo Messi debate.

There is one ‘best’ though that I feel Ronaldo nowadays wins without question.

He may wear 7 on his back, but CR7 is now the best No. 9 in the world. By far. Better than Robert Lewandowski and better than Luis Suarez.

The evolution of Ronaldo has been quite incredible – from tricky, bamboozling (sometimes his own manager and fans, not just the opposition) winger to herculean sharpshooter.

Of course, Real Madrid are far more than just the main man up top.

As Gulf News columnist Jason Pettigrove said in his piece earlier this week, Casemiro will have a huge role in the final against Juventus - who are far more than an ironclad defence. They can attack with menace too.

But when it comes to attack, when it comes to the big occasion, Ronaldo will be king in Cardiff.

And after quarter-final and semi-final hat-tricks, don’t bet against Ronaldo marking Real’s 12th crown and his big day in Champions League history with another treble.