WATCH: Cristiano Ronaldo with a swivelled left-footed half-volley top corner screamer

He wants the Ballon d'Or again.

Cristiano Ronaldo has staked an early claim in the annual Messi v Ronaldo award ceremony and, by God, this will make highlights reels aplenty when his career has long since finished. Whilst Manchester United and Liverpool played out a politely drab affair at Anfield, Real Madrid took just 18 minutes to run through Sporting Gijon for a shortcut as they raced into a 4-0 lead in frighteningly quick time. Ronaldo bagged two along with Bale and Benzema but it was the Portuguese man's first that really stole the headlines. Played a bouncing ball from his French strike partner, Ronaldo lines it up, turns and lets fly straight into the top corner in absolutely beautiful fashion. https://twitter.com/FootyVibez/status/688740980820815872 https://twitter.com/138dotcom/status/688741061309640705 His second was nearly better... https://twitter.com/moron_pedro/status/688745126215176192 He's a good player, that boy. Gareth Bale, meanwhile, took flight for the game's opener. https://twitter.com/ssfm1902/status/688744970090500096 He's alright too.