It was another clean sheet for Real Madrid as they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 in their UEFA Champions League opener, but the night belonged to one Cristiano Ronaldo. Whenever CR7 sets foot on the football field, the inevitable comparisons with Lionel Messi begin. But on Wednesday night, it was Ronaldo who emerged from Messi's shadow, leaving the Barcelona magician behind, at least temporarily.
Three goals smashed into the back of the net, and the record books were re-written yet again. Cristiano Ronaldo becoming the top goal scorer of the UEFA Champions League - his hat-trick putting him 3 ahead of Messi's 77.
Ronaldo in fact, has been in tremendous goal scoring form, having netted an incredible 8 goals in his last two games. But, for the 30-year-old it is the larger goal that matters. Ronaldo said, "I feel so proud and happy to score eight goals in two games but that is not my goal. My aim is to be good all season and for the team to succeed and win trophies".
So prolific has Ronaldo been in recent times that he has scored 40 goals in just 36 matches in 2015 so far, the hat-trick on Wednesday night was his fourth in 6 games for Real Madrid. This was also his third Champions League hat-trick, the only one ahead of him in this tally is none other than Ronaldo's arch-rival, Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo is also just one goal short of 500 goals as a professional player. His 3rd goal against Shakhtar Donetsk has left him two short of Raul's all-time Real Madrid record of 323 goals.
In fact, since his move from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo has scored 321 goals in just 304 games.
Such has been his dominance that Real Madrid manager, Rafael Benitez, who surprised many on Monday saying that Ronaldo was not the best player he had coached, was quick to rectify his mistake. Benitez said, "I said yesterday he's in our team and he's the best player in the world and I am going to repeat it today for you not to have any doubts about it. I know what Cristiano's level is and his value, he's proving it during the matches but he also proves it in every training session."
The Messi-Ronaldo debate is far from over. Records will tumble. Statistics will change. But at least for this season, Cristiano Ronaldo has sent out a strong early warning signal. The question is, can his rivals keep pace?