SALVADOR, Brazil — The goals came in volume for Cristiano Ronaldo this year, as he stretched nets in towns across Europe at a stunning rate. While playing for Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored 51 times in 47 games, earning him the Ballon d’Or for best player in the world.

But for Portugal, he has not been nearly as prolific. In two previous World Cups, the magnetic and polarizing Ronaldo managed only two goals over 11 games, leaving fans of his home country wondering when he would replicate his club success at the World Cup the way, for instance, Thomas Müller does.

Müller has certainly been good for his club, Bayern Munich. But at the World Cup, he excels the way Ronaldo never has, scoring five goals in six games in 2010.

Now he has eight.

Once again Ronaldo was left wanting in a World Cup match, and Müller scored a hat trick to lead Germany to a convincing 4-0 victory on Monday that left short-handed Portugal in shambles.