Cristiano Ronaldo scores 50th career hat-trick
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 50th hat-trick of his stunning career on Sunday night, in Real Madrid's 6-3 win over Girona.
Ronaldo struck four times in total, as well as providing an assist, to take his total for the season to 37 goals in all competitions, meaning he has now scored more in 2018 (17) than Manchester United (15).
His first against Girona was a first-time left-footed volley from inside the penalty area assisted by Toni Kroos, the second a well-taken finish from Karim Benzema's through-ball, the third a poacher's effort from inside the six yard box, lashing home a spilled save by the goalkeeper, and the fourth a smart finish from another Kroos pass.
"We know what he's capable of," said Zinedine Zidane after the match. "He's scored four goals, he's got 22 now (in La Liga). We're really happy and we've arrived at an important stage of the season in pretty good shape, playing well and scoring goals.
"He transmits a very important, very positive energy for the rest of the group. On a personal level he has 22 goals, three behind Messi, so I hope [that goes well] for him, as when he is good, the team is good.
"He knows himself very well, knows when he must rest a bit, and when the end of the season arrives he is always very good. He scores goals, and always will.
"His ambition is tremendous, in every training game, every play, which makes him different from everyone else."
Why it is far too early to be writing off Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi leads La Liga's top goalscorers table on 25 but has his familiar, resurgent rival pushing him to the 2017/18 Pichichi Trophy following his prolific comeback. It took Ronaldo a while to get going, with many suggesting the five-time Ballon d'Or winner may be past his peak but astonishingly, the forward has scored 18 league goals in his last eight games, after just four in the previous 15. Perhaps not.
Despite a bad run of form for the majority of the season, the signs were there that Ronaldo would rediscover his scoring touch, as noted in this article from February the 7th - three days before he embarked on a remarkable goalscoring spree of 17 goals in eight matches.
Why it is far too early to be writing off Cristiano Ronaldo
The hat-trick against Girona was Ronaldo's 34th in La Liga, extending his lead over Messi on 28, Telmo Zarra (23) and Alfredo Di Stefano (22). Messi and Ronaldo share the record for most Champions League hat-tricks, with seven each.
Gareth Bale and Lucas Vasquez scored the other goals in that win over Girona, which takes Real Madrid to third place on 60 points, four behind second placed Atletico Madrid with nine matches left to play.
"In the last four or five home games we have scored four, five, six goals," continued Zidane. "We missed that a lot at the start of the season.
"We are in a good moment now, positive for everyone. Now we will try and keep on this line."
