Ex-Real Madrid players laud Cristiano Ronaldo after hat-trick

Ex-Real Madrid players Álvaro Arbeloa and Guti were among the football figures to heap praise on Cristiano Ronaldo after his hat-trick against Atlético Madrid.

Cristiano's treble at the Bernabéu on Tuesday left Real with one foot in the Champions League final after a 3-0 last-four first-leg win over their city rivals.

Arbeloa: "Bow down to the best player in the world: Cristiano"

"Bow down to the best player in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro," wrote Arbeloa, who now plies his trade for West Ham, on Twitter after the match.

Meanwhile, current Real Under-19s coach Guti called for the striker's haul of four Ballons d'Or to increase to five (which would see him draw level with Leo Messi).