Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
I love watching Cristiano Ronaldo play football and I loved watching both of his hat-tricks last week – the three at Deportivo last Saturday and then four at home against Elche on Tuesday night.
They were not great opponents, so it was like shooting practice, but he is the best player in the world. I would love to have him back in the Premier League, if anyone is able to get him here.
For several years Ronaldo was neck-and-neck with Lionel Messi.
Messi was doing incredible things, a little lad picking a pocket or two, like he was running around the school playground. It was amazing watching those two, trying to beat each other.
Show all 29 1 /29A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Newcastle, 12 January 2008 Despite scoring over 100 goals during his time at Manchester United, Ronaldo would score only the one hat-trick. It came against Newcastle in the Premier League. Ronaldo scored from a wonderful flowing move and book-ended the hat-trick with a free-kick and a lucky deflection.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Mallorca, La Liga, 5 May 2010 Ronaldo's first hat-trick after leaving United for £80m came away against Mallorca. It was to be his only hat-trick of the 2009/10 season.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Racing, La Liga, 23 October 2010 GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Athletic Bilbao, La Liga, 20 November 2010 Just a month later, Ronaldo had another hat-trick, this one coming against Athletic Bilbao. One from the penalty spot, one a free kick and the first from open play.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Villarreal, La Liga, 9 January 2011 At home to Villarreal, Ronaldo twice brought Real level before his third proved decisive in this victory for the home side.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Malaga, La Liga, 3 March 2011 GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Seville, La Liga, 7 May 2011 For the second time in the season, Ronaldo scored four goals in a single match. Earlier in the week, Real had been dumped out of the Champions League, making this 6-2 away win all the more satisfying.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Getafe, La Liga, 10 May 2011 Ronaldo's sixth and final hat-trick of the 2010/11 campaign came against city rivals Getafe with what were his 47th, 48th, and 49th goals of the season.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Zaragoza, La Liga, 28 August 2011 Ronaldo's first hat-trick of the 2011/12 season came in Real Madrid's first La Liga match - a 6-0 drubbing of Zaragoza.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Real Vallecano, La Liga, 24 September 2011 Despite going behind after 17 seconds, Real Madrid would come back to win this match 6-2. Ronaldo scored two from the penalty spot.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Malaga, La Liga, 22 October 2011 Ronaldo completed this hat-trick in just 15 minutes, with his first coming in the 23rd minute and the last in the 38th as Real won 4-0.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Osasuna, La Liga, 6 November 2011 GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Seville, La Liga, 17 December 2011 GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Levante, La Liga, 12 February 201 Having gone a goal down, Real were fortunate to see Vicente Iborra sent off for a hand-ball inside the box. Ronaldo scored from the resulting penalty, headed his team ahead and capped a fine performance with a goal from range.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Atletico Madrid, La Liga, 11 April 2012 Two astonishing goals, the first a free-kick and the second a scorcher into the top corner, were capped with a penalty for CR7 in the 83rd minute. It was Ronaldo's seventh and last hat-trick of the season as Real won La Liga.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Deportivo, La Liga, 30 September 2012 GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Ajax, Champions League, 3 October 2012 Just three days later, Ronaldo had another hat-trick, and his first in the Champions League. The first was a tap in against the Dutch giants, the second from outside the area before a deft chip saw the number 7 leave Holland with the match ball.
Click here to watch the goals
ronaldo-17.jpg
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Getafe, La Liga, 27 January 2012 A blistering 10 minute spell between the 62nd and 72 minute saw CR7 claim his first hat-trick of 2013. Jose Mourinho was kind enough to give him a break after his third, which was scored from the penalty spot.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Sevilla, La Liga, 9 February 2013 GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Northern Ireland, 6 September 2013 All three goals came in the second half of this World Cup qualifier. With his side trailing 2-1 against Northern Ireland, up popped Ronaldo to score two headers to get his side in the lead before a low free-kick wrapped things up.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Galatasaray, 17 September 2013 The trio of goals were all scored yards from the goal - but the final one was notable for Gareth Bale, making his Champions League debut for Real, claiming the assist.
Click here to watch the goals
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Seville, 30 October 2013 With the first coming from the spot, two more in the second half helped Real Madrid to a 7-3 victory in this La Liga match.
Click here to watch the goals GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Sociedad, 9 November 2013 With two penalties in this 5-1 La Liga win, the one from open play involved a great piece of control before a smash across goal.
Click here to watch the goals GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Sweden, 19 November 2013 Arguably the most important hat-trick of Ronaldo's career as he steered his side to a 3-2 win over Sweden in a play-off that took his country to the World Cup. Every strike was exquisite.
Click here to watch the goals GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Deportivo La Coruna, 20 September 2014 Real were untouchable against Deportivo firing eight past their hapless opponents. Ronaldo equalled a club record for Real, as well as picking up a couple of assists.
Click here to watch the goals Getty Images
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Elche, 23 September 2014 Ronaldo scored four in this 5-1 win thanks taking him past Alfredo Di Stefano on the all-time list of hat-tricks for Los Blancos.
Click here to watch the goals Getty Images
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Athletic Bilbao, 5 October 2014 Ronaldo's phenomenal goalscoring rate continued. Make that three hat-tricks in four La Liga matches
GETTY IMAGES
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Celta Vigo, 6 December 2014 La Liga hat-trick No 23 came against Celta Vigo in 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu
A guide to every Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick v Granada, 5 April 2015 Ronaldo scored four in this La Liga win
GETTY IMAGES
One would get in front, then the other would score even more goals. It was just so entertaining for everyone who loves football.
If Messi was full of magic, Ronaldo was full of power and grace.
Those powerful headers, those free-kicks where he hit through the top of the ball and it would dip all over the place. His strength, running with the ball at pace, to find the corner of the net after running with it for 60 or 65 yards.
And I would say, now, that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best of all.
I know he turns 30 in February but he has got such great fitness and great desire.
His ambition to be the best is massive, to keep doing it and doing it until it is somehow taken away from him.
If he has got anything to do with it, that will not happen. He will be around for a long while yet.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies