Cristiano Ronaldo is 'Real Madrid's most important player'... but he needs to play for the good of the team, admits Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez has called Cristiano Ronaldo 'Real Madrid’s most important player' but urged him to use his gifts for the good of the team and not just for personal glory.

Benitez was asked who was Real Madrid’s version of Spain Basketball captain Pau Gasol after Gasol scored a record 40 points in the European Championship semi-final against France to put the Spanish in the final.

He said: ‘Cristiano is our Gasol. He is our best player but what I want is that the most important player plays to help the team. Spain reached the final because the team played well and because the player who makes the difference played for the team.’

Ronaldo has scored eight goals in his last two matches and with another hat-trick on Saturday against Granada he will break Raul’s record of 323 goals for the club in all competitions.

Shooting down rumours that relations are strained between the two he added: ‘I speak with him every day. I spoke with him today before coming to this press conference. 

'The forwards all have complete freedom on the pitch to go where they want to go. Cris goes to the centre or he can be on the right or the left wing as long as the team stays balanced