Gareth Bale insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo remains the world's best player in his eyes as the Welshman ably filled the Portuguese's shoes with his first Real Madrid hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Valladolid on Saturday.

Ronaldo was forced to sit out a second consecutive game with a slight muscle strain, but his absence proved no problem for Madrid as Bale took his tally to eight goals in his last seven games.

Victory moved Real to within three points of La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.