Moscow
Rainy cold loud electric
The Champions League final
The biggest stage of them all
Two giants
One trophy
No second chance
Cristiano walked onto the pitch with his head high
Boots sharp
Mind sharper
He had dreamed of this
Lived for this
Bled for this
Every step felt heavy
But right
The anthem played
Cameras flashed
Legends watched from the stands
But he didn't see them
Didn't hear the anthem
Only the echo of his own heartbeat
Kickoff
The match exploded fast
Tackles
Shots
Chaos
Cristiano moved like lightning
Dancing on water
Cutting through defenders
Then minute 26
He leapt for a cross
Hung in the air longer than anyone
Boom
Header
Goal
Old Trafford erupted back home
He pointed both hands to the sky
For his father
For his dream
But finals are cruel
The opponent equalized
Then pushed harder
By extra time
Legs were tired
Minds screaming
Cristiano kept running
Even when others slowed
He chased every ball like it was gold
Penalty shootout
The most brutal way to win
Or to lose
He stepped up third
Heart pounding
Rain pouring
He struck it
Too much power
Missed
The silence was deafening
He stared down
Frozen
He thought it was over
The dream slipping through his fingers
But football had other plans
The final penalty from the opponent
Missed
United won
Tears fell
Not of joy
Of relief
Cristiano collapsed on the grass
Rain mixing with sweat
With everything he carried
He didn't score the winner
Didn't take the last kick
But he had earned it
Every sprint
Every bruise
Every lonely night
In the celebrations
He stood quietly for a moment
Holding the trophy close
Then he whispered
We're not done