Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo holds the ball during their Spanish first division soccer match against Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, May 21, 2011. His 40th goal in the league this season set a new La Liga record as he passed previous holders Hugo Sanchez and Telmo Zarra who had scored 38. [Photo/Agencies]

MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo made Spanish football history on Saturday by breaking the all time goalscoring record with 40 goals in a single season for the Spanish La Liga.

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Ronaldo's third minute goal against bottom of the table Almeria meant he set a new record of 39 league goals in a single league campaign.

Ronaldo began the match with 38 goals, the same as legendary Athletic Club Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra had scored on the 1950-51 season and Hugo Sanchez in 1989 and it didn't take the Portuguese striker long to end the uncertainty as he finished Sergio Ramos' downward header from inside the Almeria penalty area after just three minutes.

It was the first goal of the night as Real Madrid cruised to an easy 8-1 win against an Almeria that was condemned to relegation several weeks ago.

Emanuel Adebayor doubled Madrid's lead after half an hour following a magnificent pass from Mesut Ozil. The striker who is on loan from Manchester City strengthened his case to make the move permanent with a smart finish.

Kalu Uche pulled a goal back for Almeria two minutes later as the Nigerian slid in to finish on the far post.  

Karim Benzema got on the scoresheet early in the second half before Adebayor added his second of the game, shooting into an empty net after a Ronaldo shot had rebounded off the post.

It was then Benzema's turn to score his second of the night as he turned home a flowing move involving Ronaldo and Adebayor as the Almeria players' heads began to drop.

Adebayor finished his hat-trick 16 minutes from time, scoring from close range following a corner taken by Esteban Granero, before Ronaldo made it 7-1 following an unchallenged run and shot from the edge of the Almeria area. It was his 40th league goal of the campaign

There was still time for youngster Joselu, who had just replaced Benzema to add an eighth from a Ronaldo cross to end Madrid's season on a high note after another season in which they have been second best to FC Barcelona in both the league and in Europe.