Cristiano Ronaldo's Health Will Be Key to Real Madrid's Success in 2014-15

Cristiano Ronaldo's return to form in recent weeks following lengthy concerns over a knee injury has coincided with Real Madrid's best run of results in the young 2014-15 season, and the star forward's health will be the key to success for Los Blancos moving forward.

According to Marca's Oscar Mendez, the Portugal international has scored an incredible 10 goals in the first six fixtures of the season, and he sees it as evidence Ronaldo's injury concerns are behind him:

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The best evidence that Ronaldo has finally left his knee problems behind can be found in the figures for his appearances in the opening games of the season.

Portugal's star forward has now equaled the record held by Kubala and Pahiño, scoring 10 goals in the first six league games. This makes him the current leading league goalscorer, with four more than Neymar and five more than Messi.

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His incredible run didn't just span La Liga action; per WhoScored.com, he also added a goal and an assist in his team's UEFA Champions League win against Basel. Ronaldo is in top form and is nothing like the player he was a month ago.

Real's record with Ronaldo on the pitch this season is almost perfect—five wins out of six matches, with the sole loss coming against rivals Atletico Madrid and before the Ballon d'Or winner started his phenomenal run.

In contrast, the team's worst match of the season was undoubtedly the 4-2 loss at the hands of Real Sociedad, a match in which Ronaldo didn't feature. Los Blancos struggled on set pieces and containing the Basques' midfield players, areas where the Portuguese forward usually doesn't contribute as much.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

But Ronaldo is more than just a scorer. On top form, there isn't a single player in the world who puts more fear into the hearts of opponents. His combination of physical attributes, technique and scoring ability is unmatched, a strong reason he's often mentioned as one of the top two players in the game.

Having such a phenomenal talent in the squad is a tremendous weapon, and not just because of his production. When Ronaldo is on his game, his team-mates play better. During Ronaldo's hot streak of the past four matches, Los Blancos have outscored opponents 20-4, per WhoScored.com.

That's no coincidence. With new signings like James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos still looking for their spots on the pitch, an unleashed Ronaldo elevates the spirits of the entire squad. It's far easier playing for arguably the biggest team in the world when you know the most prolific scorer in the sport will make up for any mistakes you might make.

Real Madrid spent heavily in the summer window, but Carlo Ancelotti's team is flawed. The back four is solid and deep, and the amount of attacking talent on display is tremendous, but the midfielders aren't overly physical and can lose the ugly battle in the centre of the pitch.

When Los Blancos are firing on all cylinders, those flaws can be masked. The forwards will just bulldoze their way through any defence and outscore whoever stands in their path. But for the club to hit those heights, they need a healthy and in-form Ronaldo.

Elche coach Fran Escriba recently compared the star forward to NBA legend Michael Jordan, according to Goal.com, making the comparison on both players' scoring merit.

"Ronaldo is an extraordinary player with tremendous scoring ability," Escriba said. "This is like when Michael Jordan was playing and scored 50 points every night."

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

Jordan's team, the Chicago Bulls, had tremendously talented players suiting up alongside their star, including Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Steve Kerr, Dennis Rodman and Toni Kukoc. But during the two years Jordan was retired, they failed to pick up any silverware. It wasn't until he returned in 1995 that the team found success again, winning three consecutive titles.

Ronaldo and Jordan are perhaps similar in that way—Real have all the talent in the world, but they need their leader on the pitch in order to achieve their goals. The path is clear for Los Blancos to dominate the sport in 2014-15, but success will ultimately rest on Ronaldo's shoulders.

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