Cristiano Ronaldo Boosts Bid to Win Golden Boot by Scoring Hat-Trick as Real Beat Osasuna

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world's most expensive soccer player, boosted his bid to grab the Golden Boot again with yet another sparkling performance.

At 83,000-seat Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Ronaldo struck a hat trick as Spanish leader Real Madrid crushed 10-man Osasuna 7-1 on Sunday.

It was Madrid's seventh consecutive league win, which took Jose Mourinho's team to lead the standings on 28 points, three ahead of defending champion Barcelona. Thanks to Lionel Messi's last minute equalizer, Barcelona tied Athletic Bilbao 2-2 at a rain-soaked San Mames.

It was Argentina winger Angel Di Maria who set up the first three goals for Ronaldo, Pepe and Gonzalo Higuain. But at the start of the second half, he was carried off due to a torn thigh muscle, Reuters reported.

Osasuna played with 10 men in the second half, in which Ronaldo notched two more goals to record his fourth three-goal game in the league this season. He scored his second goal from the penalty spot in the 54th minute. Ronaldo scored the third goal in the 57th minute, which completed his fourth league treble this season taking his La Liga tally to 13.

Substitute Karim Benzema capped the rout with two more goals and completed Real's 10th successive win in all competitions.

We have totally deserved these 10 victories. They have come from our great effort, without luck, and as a consequence of the good games we have played, Reuters quoted Mourinho as saying.

My goals are not important, what counts is that the team wins, the Associated Press quoted Ronaldo. I am happy to have scored but also because the team is playing well.

After the winning the city derby 2-0 at Levante on Saturday, Valencia stands at the third spot with 24 points.

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