World Cup: Ronaldo Joins Elite Group with Hat-trick against Spain

Rotimi Morgan/

Described as a goal scoring machine by the commentator today, Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to end the world cup match with Spain 3-3.

It was a night to remember for all concerned but not least for Ronaldo, who is featuring in his fourth World Cup.

With six goals in 14 World Cup outings, Ronaldo becomes the fourth player to score in four separate tournaments, joining Pele, Miroslav Klose and Uwe Seeler in managing the feat.

The winger scored his first goal in Russia after just four minutes from the penalty spot.

Knocking the ball past Nacho, the defender brought him down and it was Ronaldo himself who dispatched the spot-kick and sent David De Gea the wrong way.

And the goalkeeper couldn’t keep out a powerful effort on the verge of half time to make it 2-1 to Portugal at that point.

After two La Roja strikes, Ronaldo won a free-kick off Gerard Pique around 22 yards out and he stepped up to fire it over the wall and into the net with aplomb.