Anonymous for the majority, but producing the goods when it really counted - we analyse Cristiano Ronaldo's first 90 minutes of the season during a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the holders' Champions League opener.
It was an emotional night for Ronaldo as he was reunited with the club where it all began for him. Still a boy, a shy Ronaldo left his paternal home of Madeira for the bustling metropolis of Lisbon - the start of a journey that took him to the top of the world - and the meeting with familiar faces seemed to get the better of the Real superstar on only his second start of the season.
Only Karim Benzema and goalkeeper Kiko Casilla made fewer touches than Ronaldo in the opening 45 minutes, and he bettered only two players in terms of pass completion.
Although he did muster a rasping effort from distance that stung the hands of Rui Patricio in the Sporting goal, the most worrying aspect of Ronaldo's first-half display was his lack of attacking intent, and the sluggishness to his play - the Portuguese didn't produce a single dribble.
The second half didn't see any initial improvement with the 31-year-old cutting a forlorn figure as Sporting grabbed a shock lead.
With the Bernabeu stunned into silence, Ronaldo's petulant side reared its ugly head, as he reacted angrily to the referee's reluctance to award him a penalty - Ronaldo was looking at the Italian official even before he'd hit the ground.
Then came the moment Madridistas were expecting after such an ineffective showing, but Zinedine Zidane elected to leave Ronaldo on, preferring to take off Gareth Bale - who'd been much more of a threat than the Ballon d'Or holder - and Karim Benzema for Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata. It worked.
Despite looking leggy, a rejuvenated Real were creating chances, and if opportunities arise at the famous stadium, Ronaldo is often on the end of them.
Ronaldo's redemption appeared to arrive with seven minutes to go, as he met a deflected cross, but somehow he hit the post.
Real heads dropped, with Ronaldo the main protagonist of such an attitude, but he didn't give up, and after winning a free-kick in fortuitous circumstances with one minute left on the clock, Ronaldo proved that form is temporary, class is permanent.
James Rodriguez seemed to be keen on taking the set-piece, which was only a few yards outside the box, but Ronaldo was having none of it, and rather than his usual thunderbolt attempts, he curled the ball delightfully into the top corner, just out of Patricio's reach.
Sporting boss Jorge Jesus somewhat reluctantly accepted such brilliance.
"The Ronaldo goal was great - he's the best player in the world and that happens," Jesus said after the match.
Ronaldo has netted two direct free-kick goals in his last four Champions League games - the same number he netted in his previous 46 appearances in the competition.
Sporting looked shell-shocked, and ultimately buckled under pressure as Morata won it for Real, but once again, it was Ronaldo who dragged his side out of the mire.
"We started the game a little passively," Ronaldo told BeIN Sports. "But football is like this and Real Madrid are like this. The comebacks form part of this legendary stadium."
Fitness is still a concern, but to produce the goods when it really counts is a sign of a player still at the peak of his powers - write off Ronaldo at your peril.