Cristiano Ronaldo scores 400th career goal

Cristiano Ronaldo made it 400 career goals in just 652 games, as Real Madrid beat Celta Vigo 3-0 to close the gap on leaders Barcelona.

Ronaldo was out of sorts for most of Real’s first game of the year but still arrived twice in the six-yard box to finish off crosses from full back Dani Carvajal and then Gareth Bale who came on as a second half substitute.

For a player whose finishing was seen as his weakness as a young winger at Sporting the 28-year-old’s achievement is an incredible one. His double took him to 29 goals so far this season in 22 games and it gets him off the mark for 2014 after closing 2013 on 69 goals for the calendar year.

The brace also carried him past Hugo Sanchez as the fourth highest scorer in Real Madrid’s history – not a bad way to count down the days to next week’s Ballon d’Or gala.

'The goals were for Eusebio,' said the player after the game. 'I am grateful to Spain for the way they paid homage to him.'

Most expect him to be crowned Fifa World Player of the Year next week at the Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich. He will attend Monday’s presentation of the award and does so having scored the 400th goal of his career.

Confirming his attendance, Ronaldo said: 'The matter is closed and I don’t want to talk about it anymore, I just want to say that I’m going to the Gala.'

'I don’t know if it’s fair or not if I, Ribery or Messi win. I just try to do my job like I always do, to help Real Madrid by scoring goals and put in good performances. If I win, great and if not, life goes on and I’ll continue to keep doing what I’ve always done.'