Champions League: Messi and Ronaldo hit back

With a hat-trick each , Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have made ​​shot for shot at the 1st day of the Champions League and standoff distance could go to intensified by the award of the Ballon d ' But in January.

The Argentinian FC Barcelona and Real Madrid's Portuguese , preceded by the French Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich ) at the election of the best player of the 2012-2013 season in Europe, picked by hand in recent days by signing all both a hat-trick , respectively against Ajax (4-0) and Galatasaray ( 6-1).

Messi, four Ballon d'Or (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and Ronaldo , who won the prestigious award in 2008 and three times dolphin " Leo " already are top scorer in the Champions League that " CR7 "won last after four years of domination by rival season.

Even this summer they have to share the limelight with the light of their respective club rookie - Neymar at Barcelona and Gareth Bale to Real - the two men live an auspicious start to the season .

Lionel Messi is the top scorer of the Spanish Championship with six goals in three games and scored twice with Argentina in qualifying for the World Cup -2014 , a total of eleven goals in seven games for his club and national team .

For its part, Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice in the league and four times with Portugal , bringing his record to nine goals in seven games in the cash tripled inflicted Tuesday night Galatasaray .

"It was a very good match to the collective and individual level, because I scored three goals to help the team win. The last few days have been very good for me , I am delighted , "said the Portuguese striker , 28, who has extended his contract last Sunday with Real Madrid until 2018.

Raul 's record in sight

Messi , meanwhile , had a turbulent summer with his indictment in June to tax evasion and various physical problems , but ten days of hearing before a Catalan court , scheduled on September 27 , the " chip " does not seem very disturbed by his troubles : Argentina signed against Ajax his 60th , 61st and 62nd goals in 80 matches in the Champions League.

"The important thing was to start with a win , especially at home . We know that the group stage of the Champions League is always difficult, " was limited to say the striker 26, unaccustomed to highlight despite often maddening statistics.

These three goals allow him to return to new lengths of the former Real Madrid striker Raul (71) , the current top scorer in the history of the Champions League . Ronaldo , meanwhile , in a total of 53 , three less than the Dutch Ruud Van Nistelrooy , third in the rankings.

The first player to get into the history of European football than Raul should make an impression and valuable points for the Ballon d'Or in 2013 .

In the hunt for records, Messi has the advantage of also within range status best scorer in the Spanish league , owned by legendary Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra (251 goals) . The Argentine advanced to date to 220 units, but it is not excluded that crosses the bar by the end of the season.

And if Franck Ribery outsider in this race for the Ballon d'Or, for him a triple - Cup - Championship Champions League won in spring with Bayern , he is not so sure if the weight and Messi Ronaldo still stacked three by three goals .