Cristiano Ronaldo: Yet another hat-trick for the Real Madrid forward

"This year, I don't think there's much doubt,” said Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti after the match when questioned about whether his talisman would win the Ballon d’Or for a second year running. “I believe you can put on a bet.” The 29-year-old ended Lionel Messi’s hold of the prestigious trophy in January and his current form suggests he is in no mood to let it go 12 months on. Despite the incredible start by Barcelona, Messi and Neymar, nobody else is getting close to Ronaldo’s personal pride and joy.

It wasn’t meant to be this way. After limping through the end of last season with niggling injuries that also thwarted his World Cup in Brazil many reports suggested the former Manchester United man’s best days were behind him. A chronic knee injury that showed no signs of going away they said. When Ancelotti rested Ronaldo for a fortnight last month it seemed to only confirm reports that all was not well. As it was, it was a stroke of genius.

Ronaldo does not like to miss games. Sitting on the sidelines means a chance missed to add a goal to his ever-growing tally. A chance missed in edging closer to more records. He would not have liked staying at home watching on as his teammates crumbled to a 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad that left Madrid in crisis. He has liked bouncing back, however. Seven goals in 14 matches have followed in all competitions with a couple of assists thrown in for good measure. Those goals have helped Ancelotti’s men to six wins from seven matches and they have helped silence Ronaldo’s doubters.

His latest treble helped Madrid to a comfortable victory against an out-of-form Bilbao side that sit joint bottom of La Liga just months after securing a Champions League finish last season. Two were provided by the right boot - and not the left - of Gareth Bale. The first came just minutes into the game as the Welshman swung over a cross that Ronaldo turned in at the far post. His second came after the break, and after Karim Benzema, who ended the match with a brace of goals, had doubled the hosts’ lead, when the Frenchman put Bale through down the right and he slid a low ball across for the Portuguese star to bundle home. His hat-trick had a hint of fortune about it, with Pepe’s effort taking a deflection off La Liga’s top-scorer and finding its way into the back of Gorka Iraizoz’s goal in the final minute or normal time.