Flying Kick to Keeper Cragno's Jaw

Match background: On 14 March 2021, Serie A matchday 27, Juventus travelled to face Cagliari at the Sardegna Arena. Juve had just been knocked out of the Champions League round of 16 by Porto, and Ronaldo, criticised for a limp performance, desperately needed a statement night. Juve won 3-1 and Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick inside 32 minutes — but the flying kick at the keeper in the 14th minute was the real post-match storm centre.

The flying kick: In the 14th minute Ronaldo charged into the box to contest a high ball and Cagliari keeper Alessio Cragno bravely came out to punch it clear. But Ronaldo, with no chance of pulling his leg back, raised his studs and caught Cragno flush in the face and neck. Cragno went down immediately, his jaw gashed by the studs, bleeding heavily and needing long touchline treatment.

Disciplinary controversy: Referee Gianpaolo Calvarese showed Ronaldo only a yellow card, and shockingly VAR did not intervene. Under IFAB Law 12.3, 'any player who lunges at an opponent with one or both legs with excessive force, endangering the safety of the opponent, is guilty of serious foul play and must be sent off.' This was a textbook red.

Experts fire: Former Serie A referee Luca Marelli was blunt: 'Ronaldo should have been sent off. Not intentional, but it is absolutely serious foul play; that VAR did not intervene is regrettable.' Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini fumed: 'The fact Ronaldo was not sent off is what displeases me most — this was an action that could have changed the game. It endangered our keeper, and the rules are written clearly — it should have been a red.'

Fan anger: Social media erupted. One fan quipped: 'Unless the back of your shirt reads "Ronaldo", that's a red ten times out of ten.' Others pointed to systematic favouritism toward superstars in Serie A, arguing 'VAR only exists to protect the big clubs'. The 'star privilege' charge resonated widely in Italian football.

Ironic aftermath: Having escaped red, Ronaldo not only stayed on but won a penalty in the 25th minute (Cragno's foul), converted it himself, and added another in the 32nd to complete his hat-trick. He celebrated by touching his own neck — interpretations varied. Some saw a riposte to critics; others read it as a provocative hint that he had 'only nicked Cragno's neck'.

Historical significance: The Cragno flying kick was ranked by Britain's The Sun at the top of 'horrific Ronaldo tackles that escaped red', alongside the Krychowiak punch and the Alves elbow — the complete picture of his on-pitch violence. The series cemented among fans the 'Ballon d'Or halo protection' theory around Ronaldo.