The most searched player on the internet is me: Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has lashed out at Xavi Hernandez after the former Barcelona player suggested the Real Madrid man was unlucky to be living in the same era as Lionel Messi.

Xavi hailed the Portuguese forward as an elite player, but pointed out Ronaldo was unlucky to be around at the same time as the Argentina star.

However, Ronaldo went on a tirade after helping his team beat Osasuna 5-2 on his return from injury, reports Daily Mail Online.

‘The most searched for player on the Internet is me,’ bragged Ronaldo. `Those that want to appear on front covers [of newspapers] or promote things speak about me.

‘What does it matter to me what Xavi says? He plays where? In Qatar or [somewhere], I don’t know. He’s won everything but he’s never won a Ballon d’Or. I have three.’

Messi has won five Ballon d’Ors and is widely considered the best player of all-time, but Ronaldo believes he is worthy of that accolade.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser earlier in the week, Xavi had said: ‘Only a fool could have played football and not recognise Cristiano is an elite footballer. But he just has had bad luck to be around at the same time as Leo.’

|On Saturday Ronaldo scored on his Madrid comeback in the sixth minute at the Santiago Bernabeu as Los Blancos ran riot against Osasuna, making it three wins from their first three La Liga matches.

He was criticised in the summer for his comments about Iceland at Euro 2016, with Ronaldo claiming they had a ‘small mentality’ after they drew with Portugal in the group stage.

Ronaldo also claimed that if he were Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s president, he would issue himself with a new mega-deal. Ronaldo’s current deal is set to end in 2018.

He added: ‘If I were the president of Real Madrid, I would give myself a 10-year contract. Right now I’m not thinking about anything else in my career, all I want is to retire at Real. This is the biggest club in the world and it should have the best players.’

A host of different Real players joined Ronaldo in netting against Osasuna, with Danilo, Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Luka Modric all on the scoresheet. 

Oriol Riera pulled one back for Osasuna and Kiko Casilla saved a Roberto Torres penalty, before David Garcia grabbed another and Cayetano Bonnin was sent off.

For large periods Real Madrid was unstoppable as they battered the visitors from northern Spain, racking up their 15th consecutive win in La Liga.