After going scoreless in the opening two matches of La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi opened their goalscoring accounts in the third week, both in decidedly different ways.

Ronaldo came under fire after failing to score consistently throughout the preseason and opening weeks of the season. He looked frustrated, lacked the clinical finishing and often looked lost in Madrid's new offensive set up. There were rumors that he might be upset with Rafa Benitez's system and could be looking for the exits signs of the Santiago Bernabeu. Then there was speculation as to whether his decline had finally arrived.

Then he scored five goals against Espanyol on the road.

Espanyol is no world-beater and Ronaldo did not score any goals that light up the highlight reels. Barcelona fans and Ronaldo detractors will likely point to the fact that Ronaldo scored "tap in" goals and a penalty. Yet the fact stands, Ronaldo scored five goals in one game including a hat trick in under 20 minutes. That is the second time the superstar has done that in 2015, a feat he had never achieved in his entire career. Throw in the fact that in the last seven La Liga games Ronaldo has put up four hat tricks, and you really have to look at those "decline" theories and laugh. Every goal showed that this superstar, while certainly not the speedster of yesteryear, is still quite a potent finished with a nose for the net.

And did we mention that he added an assist to the goal, cementing his involvement in six goals?

Messi had quite the night against Atletico Madrid, but for different reasons. He started on the bench in the match and watched his team struggle to produce anything whatsoever. Neymar scored a free kick goal to tie a game that looked like it would end in a 1-1 draw.

Then Messi came on the pitch and scored the game winner. His goal was not one of his brilliant dribbles through the defense or a blast from outside the box but simply the result of a poor Atletico clearance and a smart flick from Luis Suarez.

Season Statistics

Messi has four goals in six matches this season but has yet to record an assist. The goal was his first La Liga tally in 2015-16. He scored goals in the Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Ronaldo has scored five goals in his first three games (more like one goal in his last game), but he now leads the Pichichi race by a four-goal margin against Messi

Calendar Year Statistics

Heading into Saturday's contests, Messi had an overwhelming lead on Ronaldo buoyed by three international break goals. His lead at the time was 42 goals and 22 assists to 32 goals and 10 assists.

Now Ronaldo has pulled within in striking distance, scoring 37 goals and 11 assists in 36 matches; Messi has his 43 goals and 22 assists in 49 games this season.

Winner

Messi scored the winner that saved his club, but any reasonable person would perhaps have guessed the outcome here without any shadow of a doubt. Five goals and one assist? That is something Messi has not done in ages.

Ronaldo wins the week, but Messi leads 2-1 overall.

Past editions

Week 1

Week 2