Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have finally left his knee problems behind him, having experienced an outstanding start to the new season.
He scored a hat-trick in Real’s 8-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna, followed by four against Elche. He was again on target in the weekend’s 2-0 win at Villarreal. Add these to the goals he scored against Cordoba and Atletico Madrid, and he’s already on target to surpass all known La Liga scoring records.
His 10 goals within the first six games of the new campaign equals the records set by Kubala in 1953 and Pahiño in 1954, while he is currently the leading goalscorer in La Liga, with four more than his closest rival Neymar.
Considering he missed Real’s second fixture of the season, his average is therefore two goals per appearance. If he is able to maintain this rate, he will surpass the current record of most goals scored in a Spanish top flight season – 50 – set by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi during the 2011/12 campaign.
However, as Madrid prepare to face Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday evening, Ronaldo could break an even more impressive record. Two goals in Bulgaria would see the Portuguese international draw level with Raul at the top of the Champions League record books.
Raul netted an impressive 71 times in the competition throughout his career (66 with Real and five with German outfit Schalke) but it seems only matter of time before Ronaldo overtakes him. With 69 strikes in Europe, the 29-year-old is within touching distance of the former Spanish international’s total.
For many, Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as the greatest player in world football. If he can continue his fine scoring form, overcoming first Raul, and then Lionel Messi’s standing records, few will be able to dispute this claim.
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