Ronaldo proves his Real worth in Champions League

Even at a world-record price of euro94 million ($135 million), Cristiano Ronaldo is giving Real Madrid exactly what it paid for.

The world player of the year scored twice on his Champions League debut for Real on Tuesday, firing in trademark free kicks at key moments in a 5-2 victory against FC Zurich.

Add an array of his usual flicks and shimmies, plus glimpses of thrilling link play with his illustrious new teammates Kaka and Raul, and there was plenty to entertain a global audience watching the world's most popular club football competition.

With Ronaldo on his team, Real president Florentino Perez's business model for a new galacticos era can seem to make perfect sense. Perez persuaded Spanish banks during a financial crisis to fund a euro250 million ($360 million) spending spree on players who would restore the club's brand after seven straight years of Champions League failure.

Since most of the money was spent on forwards rather than defenders, Ronaldo might just have to score two, and the team five, each game to be sure of winning.

The ever-confident Portuguese shrugged off any suggestion he was under pressure to deliver.

"I never feel pressure," the 24-year-old Ronaldo said. "I just work to score goals. I scored two and I'm really pleased for that but the important thing is to win games."

His first goal came after 27 scoreless minutes against unheralded host Zurich which buzzed around the field and shaped as nobody's patsy. This despite an annual budget of 16 million Swiss francs ($15.4 million; euro10.6 million), about the same as its tormentor's basic salary.

Having drawn a second foul in quick succession in his sweet spot 25 meters (yards) out, just left of center, Ronaldo squared up to the ball, feet planted, legs spread wide.

His first dead-ball shot had sliced high and wide, but the next found its range tracing a rising path into the net, though barely out of reach of Zurich goalkeeper Johnny Leoni.

Ronaldo's skipping celebration run was more about boyish delight than arrogance at once more making the stunning seem commonplace.

"He has proven again he can do whatever he wants," Real coach Manuel Pelligrini said. "He has already proven enough."

Cruising with a 3-0 lead at halftime, Real's defensive shortcomings allowed Zurich a penalty and a header off a corner midway through the second period to bring the Letzigrund Stadium to life.

When Real needed a late insurance goal, Ronaldo won the free kick and fired a relatively ordinary 30-meter(yard) shot whose reputation preceded it. Leoni spilled the ball above his head and over the goalline.

The Zurich keeper felt no shame at being beaten twice by a player he regards as the world's best.

"I will sleep tonight," Leoni said. "Ronaldo is very special when he shoots the ball and it's moving very fast."

Less approving were Swiss fans in the Sudkurve section of the stadium who sounded a chorus of whistles and boos each time he touched the ball.

They were echoed more subtly in comments by Zurich coach Bernard Challandes that Ronaldo gets decisions by turning the least contact into what appears to be a clear foul. If true, it is one of Ronaldo's many arts.

Pelligrini preferred to focus on his star player's four goals which have helped his team win its first three games of a season in which dethroning Barcelona as Spanish and European champion is crucial to the club's self-regarding image.

"I think Ronaldo is always decisive. He has shown his importance in all the games he has played," the Chilean coach said.

Ronaldo scored 15 times in 52 Champions League matches for Manchester United, including eight when inspiring its title-winning 2008 campaign.

His fast start on Tuesday suggests he can live up to his side of Real's galacticos bargain.