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Cristiano Ronaldo: Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho hails Portugal star after Spain hat-trick
CRISTIANO RONALDO fired in a hat-trick as Portugal drew 3-3 with Spain and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was on hand to hail him after the match.
Ronaldo's World Cup hat-trick praised by Rio Ferdinand
Ronaldo went into the showdown with Portugal's Iberian neighbours with plenty of headlines already written about him after his tax case with the Spanish authorities was settled earlier in the day.
And he made sure he will be a major talking point for days to come by netting a treble in a thrilling draw at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo put Portugal a goal to the good after just four minutes, bagging from the spot having been up-ended in the box.
And he doubled up in fortunate circumstances midway through the first half as David De Gea's error helped cancel out Diego Costa's equaliser.
Cristiano Ronaldo kindly gives a little boy his autograph
Ronaldo was on hand late on to save the day for Portugal after Costa and Nacho Fernandez had put Spain 3-2 up.
The Real Madrid star's free-kick curled round the wall and past the prone De Gea to level things up in the 88th minute.
Mourinho, who's been linked with a move to take Ronaldo back to Manchester United, praised his countryman post-match.
"There are players for some matches, there are players for every match & there are players for special matches," said Mourinho on Russian TV station Russia Today.
"And the players for special matches are the ones."
Jose Mourinho also discussed United stopper De Gea, whose error will receive plenty of coverage in the coming days.
"It’s my boy, it hurts me to say but he knows it’s a bad mistake," added Mourinho.
"It’s a mistake he doesn’t make with us, United - player of the season, fantastic performances. But that happens to the best.
"The good thing with the best is that in the next match he will be there - not afraid, confident to go and ready to help his team.
"It is a goal with David’s face."