No side has retained the European Cup since it was revamped as the Champions League in 1992.
Now United are just one win away after a dazzling 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium that completed a comfortable aggregate triumph to seal a meeting with either Chelsea or Barcelona.
As usual, Ronaldo was in the thick of the action, smashing home an incredible 40-yard free-kick after Park Ji-sung had seized on Kieran Gibbs' slip to give United an eighth minute lead.
Ronaldo was not finished either, taking his seasonal tally to 25 by finishing off a flowing second-half counter-attack to render Robin van Persie's late consolation as totally meaningless.
"I have always believed we were going to win it again," said Ronaldo.
"That is what we have been trying to do and now we are in the final, so we have a great opportunity.
"It was not an easy match. Arsenal are a good team, so to score three goals at their own ground is just amazing.
"The whole team were superb and we deserve to be in the final."
Ronaldo was able to spare a thought for Darren Fletcher, who looks set to miss the final after the red card he was shown for a tackle on Cesc Fabregas.
TV replays showed the Scotland international touched the ball before he made contact with the Gunners skipper, raising some hope that Italian referee Roberto Rosetti will ask for the decision to be overturned.
"I am tremendously disappointed for Darren," said the world player of the year.
"He has played in most of the games and now he cannot play in the final. He deserves to - but that is football."
Ronaldo's amazing first goal was even further out than his 39.1 yard effort against FC Porto in the last round.
Even Ferguson was caught by the surprise when he saw the ferocity of the shot, although Ronaldo could not pick a favourite between the pair.
"It is difficult to say which one was the best," he said.
"They were both very good. I just tried to hit the ball hard. It makes it a very difficult shot to save."
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The world's greatest player at the world's greatest club! What a combination. Now let us write history AGAIN!
Have also mailed UEFA, kindly asking for Fletch's red card to be rescinded. Hope the referee does the right thing and admits he got it wrong. . .
Well done boys - what a performance !
Lets go on and win it in Rome.
He's off to Real in a matter of weeks but don't think we'll get Ribery with the dough. The other semi is the stronger of the two and we'll strugle whoever get's through. Fergie is thick leaving RLooney on the pitch to maybe get himself banned. We're stil weak in midfield and Chelsea will expose it!
Exocet missile.Fabulous Ronaldo.Fabulous team.We are a more confident team now and although Chelsea are a hard team we can beat them inside 90 minutes this time.UNITED players and supporters are all ecstatic right now.Obviously we'll have to come back to the reality of working hard to win the EPL and CL.Liverpool are not as good as UNITED fact!
The most dives in one season? or the most snidey kicks after the ball has gone.
The referee Roberto Rosetti got it right, it was Webb who got it wrong.
i trust utd. to make history by successfully defendingthe champions league(manchester united's) trophy.
But lets put our mind on beating city first this weekend.
Eureka!
Ever red
Banjul
Lets hope Ronaldo is history next season. Will he finally move to Real Madrid this summer?
Yep OK, but it's YOUR Big One on Sunday.
Imagine all the Chinese Gentlemen who regularly take a seat on the front row of the Stratford End, emptying their camera memory cards as we speak in anticipation of capturing the GREAT ROBINHO on film. Have to be quick though. Ohhhhhh, yes I.
"Ronaldo wants to make history". Well he already has with those beautifully plucked eyebrows, the first in the premiership.
Both legs were most un-United like. Scored early, never looked under threat, result never in doubt. Where was the edge-of-the-seat, fingernail-chewing angst that United normally put us through?
Ronaldo was awesome last night. For a supposedly poor season he has 25 goals and has scored many important goals now at important times. Two v Villa two v Spurs and the goals that have gotten us through the CL qtr and semi's. Anyone questioning his workrate and commitment should watch his run for the third goal. No other player in Uniteds sqaud (Fletcher maybe ?) would have made that run to get on the end of Rooneys pass. Sublime. Viva Ronaldo.
Alias not sure who is more disapointed you or the media ??
Alias; I prefer this way you can relax a little bit more.Early news is UEFA will stand by the Fletcher ban.Officialdom in football is plain stupid at times.Even if DF had committed a foul the punishment is still too severe for an honest attempt to play the ball.Scholes and Giggs don't have the energy of Fletcher,but perhaps Chelsea don't have the pace of Arsenal.It'll be interesting to see who plays.
I like the faces he pulls when he sees the camera pointing at him. Thats my favourite bit of Ronaldo. Oh, and his mams hat.
Alias I couldn't agree more. After 12 mins - one min to absorb the previous 4 - I didn't know what to do with myself. It was such great football. People go on about Gibbs' slip but the ball still needed to be controlled and put away.
I recall Gibbs slipping early in the 1st leg but his slip caught Ronaldo by surprised. After that Gibbs was impressive in the first leg.
Meanwhile any theories as to why Rooney looks so good on the wing? Mine, as I have said before, is that he simply gets fed the ball more. He is such a selfless team player. His pass to Park again Boro and the one to Ronny last night were superb, as were the finishes. And Alias, I could get used to this new model of playing I.e kill games in the first 10 minutes rather than in injury time.
Just back from the smoke, reds everywhere, mobbed the place.
The history boys are marching relentlesly towards our destiny, and the bitters will be trampled underfoot in our stampede to glory.
Why do the liars come on here? Can they not be humble in the prescene of greatness?
Now run along Bertie's to the back-door and see if you enter into Europe using it once again.
UNITED = Traditionally Manchester's finest.
although i dont particularly fancy facing either chelsea or barca i believe we can still defend the CL. The best team certainly are through in to the final and seem to be hitting form at the right time. bring on sunday
Just back from the smoke, reds everywhere, mobbed the place.
UNITED = Traditionally SALFRODS finest.
Blackley Red, M9,
6/05/2009 at 12:33
Not surprising how many of you lot come from there
sigmund fraud., strangeways,bluedefence,
Really struggling now girls aren't yoU
THE MORE BITTER YOU GET IS INVERSLY PROPORTIONAL TO UNITED'S SUCCESS RATE, MAGIC 34 YEARS AND COUNTING
I SUPPOSE IF BY SOME FLUKE YOU GET ANY SORT OF RESULT AT WEEKEND YOU'LL ACTUALLY THINK YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH FOR BIG BOYS FOOTBALL
Ronaldo brilliant.
But lets not be complacent, we have to be on top top form to win it again.
But lets beat Stockport SportCity F.C. at weekend before even thinking about anything else.
Mrs Fullaways lodger.
Good point about emailing UEFA about rescinding the red card. I too have emailed the actual referee and asked him rescind it.
MUFC-herefirst-1878, Wilmslow
The mistake is that the fans don't win the trophies the team do. That is why Utd are a magnet for inadequate people.
Oh, let's sell him off to Madrid. He hasn't been brilliant like last season. He hasn't looked like scoring 42 goals, infact he is way short plus he is sulking and petulant. He is not celebrating his goals. He does not track back like Rooney therefore he is a rubbish player.
Say it again fellow United fans.
VIVA RONALDO
Well done United!