Scoring goals on a regular basis is a rare feat that only the most gifted players in world football can achieve. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are on another planet when compared to everyone else, such is their unerring ability to find the back of the net and break goal-scoring records at will.
Both will go down as two of the best players in football history, but the latter has started the 2014/2015 season on fire. Despite failing to lead from the front in the 2014 World Cup as Portugal crashed out in the group stages, Ronaldo has more than made up for the disappointment by smashing in 13 goals in just 6 La Liga games, making him one of the most sought after picks in any European fantasy football league. Checking Coral for the latest sports odds would indicate that Ronaldo is not only favourite to retain his Ballon d’Or crown, but also the most likely to score the first goal and odds-on to score at any time in Real Madrid’s upcoming La Liga fixture at Levante.
Hat-tricks and scoring records
Recording 39 goals in the calendar year represents a wonderful achievement for one of the most gifted footballers in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo has worked assiduously on every aspect of his game and overall physical condition to develop into one of the world’s best players who can not only create chances at will through sublime skill and speed, but also score goals at an unerring rate from open play and set pieces.
Only Jonathan Soriano has scored more goals in 2014 than Ronaldo, but the Portuguese star has struck goals with a superb return of 7 goals in just 2 La Liga games. A hat-trick at Deportivo in Real Madrid’s 8-2 victory was followed 4 days later by a 4 goal haul against Elche to record his 25th hat-trick – 21 coming in La Liga – for the club. It has made his goal-scoring record even more remarkable, with Ronaldo hitting 186 goals in just 169 games in Real Madrid colours.
At this rate, it will not be long before Ronaldo reaches 200 goals and equals the great Alfredo Di Stefano’s club record of 26 hat-tricks. Last weekend, Ronaldo tied La Liga record of 22 hat-tricks after scoring another treble against Athletic Bilbao.
Will Ronaldo ever return to Manchester United?
Although his move to Spain transformed Ronaldo into one of the best players in the world, he has made no secret of his admiration for former club Manchester United and suggested that he may be willing to return in the future. Being Real’s Madrid jewel in the crowd amidst a host of ‘Galactico’ stars would suggest that Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Perez will do everything in their power to keep Ronaldo at the Bernabau, but he may have the ultimate say on his own future.
Returning to Old Trafford would provide a much-needed boost for Manchester United fans and Louis Van Gaal, as their poor start to the season reflects that there is much work ahead before they can be considered serious challengers for the Premier League title.
