Cristiano Ronaldo's sheer wizardry, typified by his thoroughbred athleticism, irrepressible fighting spirit and impeccable mastery of the ball, gave Real Madrid the needed impetus to surmount a two-goal deficit and eliminate Wolfsburg 3-2 on aggregate in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final match played the Bernabaue in Spain.
Having lost the first leg 2-0 to the German side, Real Madrid needed three goals to progress, and Ronaldo provided them.
The three-time World Footballer of the Year netted two goals in the space of 90 seconds to bring Madrid level in the tie, before completing his treble and the turnaround with 13 minutes remaining.
Ronaldo halved the aggregate deficit with a composed 15th-minute finish and just one minute and 26 seconds later Madrid were all square as he headed home Toni Kroos' corner.
Wolfsburg threatened on multiple occasions to turn the tie back in their favour.
But Ronaldo refused to be denied and capped a stunning individual performance in fitting fashion with a sublime free-kick that marked his 16th Champions League goal of the season and kept Madrid's hopes of an 11th European crown very much alive.