Monday, 11 August 2014

n his 106 away appearances for Real Madrid on 2 November 2013, Ronaldo scored his 100th away goal as he hit a brace in a 3–2 away victory against Rayo Vallecano, averaging 0.94 per game.[174] On 5 November 2013, Ronaldo broke the record held for Champions League goals scored in a calendar year with 14 goals, after he equalised for Real Madrid in a 2–2 draw at Juventus. On 9 November 2013, Ronaldo scored his 19th La Liga hat-trick (one from open play, a penalty and a direct free kick) in a 5–1 home victory against Real Sociedad, which made him second in the all time League hat-trick list. The direct free kick was his 20th direct free kick goal for Real Madrid, one more than free kick specialist Ronaldinho scored with Barcelona.[175]
After his strong form in the 2013–14 campaign by which he had scored 32 goals from 22 matches played for both club and country by the middle of November 2013, including five hat-tricks, Ronaldo suggested that he could be in the "best form of his life".[176] On 23 November 2013, Ronaldo was replaced by Jesé in the 52nd minute against Almería after suffering a muscle strain, which would keep him out for one to two weeks.[177] Ronaldo made his return in a 2–0 away victory against Copenhagen in the Champions League on 10 December 2013 and went on to break the record for most goals scored in the Champions League group stages with 9 goals.[178] His final match of the calendar year saw him score a header in a 3–2 away win against Valencia, ending the year with a tally of 69 goals in 59 appearance, his highest year-end goal tally.[179][180] With the goal, he became the club's fourth top scorer in the league with 164 league goals, equalling the tally gained by Hugo Sánchez. He also become the second top scorer in matches played away from home with 72 goals, 15 behind the record holder Raúl with 87.[181]
In Real Madrid's first match following the 2013–14 winter break, Ronaldo score a brace in a 3–0 home victory against Celta Vigo, including his 400th career goal in 653 games for club and country. He dedicated his two goals to Eusébio, who had died two days before.[18] With the brace, he also reached 230 goals in just 221 appearances for Real Madrid in all competitions.
Ronaldo is a unique player for all of his talent and his professionalism. He is a player who is extraordinarily consistent.
On 13 January 2014, Ronaldo won the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or, beating Lionel Messi, who had won the prize the previous four years, and Franck Ribéry.[183] This was his second Ballon d'Or overall and his first since winning the prize in 2008, thereby became the 10th multiple winner of the football's top individual prize. He also became the third player to win the award after playing at least a full calendar year at Real Madrid.[184]Ronaldo had been runner-up on another four occasions: 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012.[185] A tearful Ronaldo described receiving the accolade as "no words to describe this moment" and "it's hard to win this award".[186]The achievement fuelled media to recognise Ronaldo as one of the greatest players in football history,[187][188][189] with Brazil great Pelé stating that Ronaldo must continue to maintain his exceptional high standards.

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