GOALS AND LOLS

Cristiano Ronaldo has smile on his face in Portugal training as he leads Golden Boot race ahead of rival Lionel Messi

The Portugal captain provides the goals and the laughs for his side as he tops the Golden Boot leader board thanks to his hat-trick against Spain

CRISTIANO RONALDO was all smiles as returned to training with his national side, safe in the knowledge that he's leading the race for the Golden Boot.

The Portuguese star looked pleased with himself, after he scored THAT free-kick to secure a draw in his side's thrilling opening match against Spain.

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His fancy footwork has taken him to the top of the Golden Boot leader board, with his rival Messi yet to find the back of the netCredit: AFP or licensors
Ronaldo shared a joke with his Portugual team-mates, as they returned to training in Russia todayCredit: EPA

Ronaldo's hat-trick in his opening game puts him top of the Golden Boot leader board, ahead of his fierce rival Lionel Messi.

His Argentinian nemesis had the opportunity to try and close the gap when he was gifted a penalty against Iceland, but failed to find the back of the net.
In his first 95 minutes of the World Cup, Ronaldo scored three goals, from four shots.

Which so far gives him a one-goal advantage against Diego Costa of Spain and Denis Cheryshev of Russia.

 Ronaldo is all smiles as he sits comfortably at the top of the Golden Boot standingsCredit: Reuters

The hot-shots for the competition are undoubtedly the big names that were top goal scorers in competitions across Europe.

Messi who was the Pichichi winner in La Liga, Mohamed Salah who clinched the Premier League Golden Boot and Ronaldo himself who was the top scorer in the Champions League.

Although, Salah's injury already ruled him out of Egypt's first fixture, so he too has some catching up to do.

The last World Cup,  saw James Rodriguez win the Golden Boot, when he scored six goals for Colombia.


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It was Ronaldo's final shot of the game that took him to the top of the Golden Boot leader boardCredit: EPA

And Germany's Thomas Muller won it in 2010 thanks to his five goals.
Ronaldo's namesake in Brazilian form won the award in 2002 when he bagged eight goals, but the highest goal scorer in one World Cup campaign goes to Just Fonataine.

The Frenchman scored 13 goals for France during the 1958 competition and he too scored a hat-trick in his side's opening game.

So, there's still time for Portugal's captain and country's all-time top goal scorer, to chase records.
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