Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has heaped praise upon Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick during last night's 4-2 win over Levante, the third of which was the 4,000th Madrid goal to be scored in the Bernabeu.

"Cristiano Ronaldo's [third] goal was incredible, fantastic, and I believe it will go around the world during the next few weeks," Mourinho told reporters.

"The entire team feels so and it was a special strike for Cristiano. It was the 4,000th strike at the Santiago Bernabeu and he deserves it."

Madrid are now ten points clear of Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table.