Madrid star Ronaldo reaches 300 Liga goals - in fewer matches than Messi

The Merengue legend has scored at a rate of more than a goal a game since arriving in 2009 and now has a triple century in Spain's top flight

Cristiano Ronaldo set new history on Saturday as he became only the second player to score 300 goals in the competition.

The star was teed up on the stroke of half time by Karim Benzema to put his side 2-0 up against at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That goal means he has now completed his triple century in the Spanish top flight, the second man to do so after Lionel Messi, and in record time.

300 - Cristiano Ronaldo has become the second player to score 300 goals in La Liga after Lionel Messi (372). Myth. pic.twitter.com/b99Pdsg1Xg — OptaJose (@OptaJose) 3 de marzo de 2018

While Messi needed 334 games to reach the milestone with , Ronaldo has accomplished the feat in just 286 outings.

The striker has scored at a rate of more than a goal a game since joining Madrid in 2009, a ratio unprecedented in the history of Europe's top leagues.

With 372 Liga goals and counting, however, the Argentine still holds a healthy lead in the overall scoring charts.

Getafe have long been one of Ronaldo's favourite opponents in the Blanco shirt.

The fellow Madrid side have now conceded 22 goals against the current Ballon d'Or holder, with only , who have fallen to him 25 times, faring worse.

Ronaldo has netted in 12 of his 15 meetings with Getafe, scoring a hat trick on four occasions.