Ronaldo sets new scoring record in Spain

Updated on: 23 May,2011 06:52 AM IST |
Agencies |

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday broke the Primera Division record for goals in a single season after netting his 39th of the campaign against Almeria

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo on Saturday broke the Primera Division record for goals in a single season after netting his 39th of the campaign against Almeria.

Ronaldo needed just five minutes of Madrid's final game of the season against already-relegated Almeria to seal his place in the record books.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldou00a0 celebrates a goal during Saturday's La
Liga match against Almeria in Madrid. PIC/Getty Images

Xabi Alonso's free-kick to the far post was headed back across goal by Sergio Ramos and the unmarked Ronaldo was on hand to poke in the opening goal of the game.

That strike saw Ronaldo move one clear of the previous all-time record, which he jointly held with Madrid's Hugo Sanchez, from the 1989/90 season, and the legendary Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra, who achieved the feat during the 1959/60 campaign.

Ronaldo has netted 52 in all competitions for Madrid this season.

Barca end on a high
Champions Barcelona ended their stellar league campaign with a 3-1 win at Malaga in a timely warm-up for next week's Champions League final against Manchester United.