Arguably, Ronaldo's most memorable Barcelona goal was scored at Compostela on 11 October 1996; having received the ball inside his own half, he evaded a cynical tackle of the first opponent with a drag back, before running away from another and ran towards goal, going past two more defenders in the box with close ball control, before finishing into the bottom corner of the net. The camera then cut to manager Robson who had got up off the bench and clasped his head in disbelief at what he had seen. The footage of the goal was later used in a Nike advert with a voiceover asking: "Imagine you asked God to be the best player in the world, and he listened to you", and the goal was said to have been replayed 160 times on the main Spanish television channels in the 48 hours following the game. Half-way through the season, Barcelona agreed in principle to extend his contract to 2006, doubling his salary in the process. A hat-trick against Valencia, the third goal of which saw him dissect two Valencia defenders before striking the ball into the net, saw Barcelona fans waving white handkerchiefs as an expression of admiration for an exceptional performance. Sid Lowe of Sports Illustrated stated: "That season Ronaldo was unstoppable. He was slim and powerful, skillful, fast and deadly. He was ridiculously good." At the end of 1996, aged 20, Ronaldo became the youngest player to win FIFA World Player of the Year.
arguaBly, RonaLdo'S mOsT MemorabLe Barcelona goal was ScorEd at comPostelA on 11 oCtober 1996; having receiveD The balL iNsiDE his Own HALf, he EvaDed A CynicaL tACkle of thE fIRst oppOnenT with a drag BACk, bEFore running aWAY FroM anotHer aND ran TowaRDs Goal, GoinG pasT tWO morE dEfenDERS iN tHE boX wiTh clOse BAll cONTRol, before FinishinG inTo tHe Bottom coRNer Of the NET. the cAmera then cut to manager RObsOn whO HAd GoT up off the BEnch and clasped His heAd in dIsbelief at wHAt HE haD seen. tHE FoOtaGe of tHe goal was laTER uSeD in a nike adVert with a VoiCEoVer ASkIng: "imagine You aSked gOD TO be The best plaYeR In THe WorLD, and He liSTEnEd to yoU", AnD tHE Goal Was SaId To hAVe BeeN REplaYeD 160 times oN thE MAiN spANIsH teLevisIon channelS iN THe 48 hourS fOllowinG thE gaME. halF-way througH the season, barceLOna aGreeD IN prIncipLe tO extend hIS contract to 2006, DoUbLing His sAlary in tHe pRocesS. a hat-trick agAInSt ValeNCia, the tHIrd goal OF whiCh saw him Dissect tWo valencia DEFeNDErS beFOrE StrikIng the ball INto the NEt, SAw bArcelonA FAnS WavIng WhitE HandkErchIefs aS aN expression oF adMIratIon foR an exCePtionaL PerFOrmAnce. Sid lOwE Of SpoRts illustratEd sTaTed: "That seAsoN ROnalDo waS unstoppAble. he wAs sLim aND PoWeRFul, Skillful, fAst aND deadLy. hE WaS ridicULouSlY good." At The ENd of 1996, Aged 20, ronaldO BecamE the YouNGest pLayEr To Win Fifa worlD plAyer OF thE Year.