If there's one thing that the generic football fan has learnt over the years, it's that Cristiano Ronaldo always shows up on the biggest stage.

Always.

Five UEFA Champions League wins, the European Championship, numerous Premier League and La Liga medals, not to mention being a five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

But Ronaldo is looking to collect the one trophy that has alluded him all of his career so far, that being the FIFA World Cup.

Despite a ropey group stage where Portugal only just got past Morocco 1-0, and picked up draws against Spain and Iran, the stage is set for a mouthwatering round of 16 clash against Uruguay.

That will pit Ronaldo against the formidable Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin, and Luis Suarez coming up against Pepe, which could get feisty.

If Ronaldo gets his own way though, he will almost certainly want to fire one of his trademark free-kicks into the top corner, just like he did against Spain in the closing moments of the game.

Ever since his days at Manchester United, Ronaldo has developed his own unique set-up that has become synonymous with his name.

And when he stepped up to fire the ball past David De Gea in the opposition goal, there was a sense of inevitability that he would end up stealing the show.

As an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson for a number of years, former Hull City manager Mike Phelan saw how Ronaldo was every day in training and on a matchday, and he thinks he knows why 'CR7' makes a scene when it comes to 'the stance'.

“People used to put the ball down, walk away, run up and hit it. He brought in a more dynamic showmanship," stated Phelan.

"He places the ball down, the concentration level is high, he takes his certain amount of steps back so that his standing foot is in the perfect place to hit the ball in the sweet spot.

“He is the ultimate showman. He has that slight arrogance.

"When he pulls those shorts up and shows his thighs, he is saying ‘All eyes on me’ and this is going in.

"He understands the marketing side of it. The way he struts up and places it; the world is watching him.”

You can't help but think Phelan is right, it is good for Ronaldo's brand that he has his own 'thing' going on when it comes to free-kicks, and it will probably never be replicated.

If it happens again against Uruguay, expect the world to restart the never-ending Lionel Messi versus Ronaldo debate, because it will seemingly never end.