Russian President Vladimir Putin scores EIGHT times as he steals limelight in exhibition ice hockey match

VLADIMIR was Put-in the limelight at an exhibition ice hockey match – and showed yet again why he’s dubbed Russia’s “action man president”.

Nearly scoring three lots of hat tricks, he managed to notch up eight goals while playing for the ‘Legends’ team in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The Russian leader, 66, took to the ice today in what has become an annual tradition.

Showing off his athletic prowess and puck-handling skills on the ice, he playing centre-forward, and was provided with plenty of scoring opportunities by his teammates.

Putin played on the Legends team alongside Russian hockey stars such as Slava Fetisov and Pavel Bure.

And as there was little resistance from the opposing team’s defence, Putin helped his side to an easy 14-7 win in the Night Hockey League.

His teammate, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, scored three goals.

The opposing team was made up of high-profile amateur players, including Putin’s childhood friend, tycoon Gennady Timchenko, billionaire Vladimir Potanin and several Russian governors.

The Kremlin press office has long cultivated a swashbuckling image of the president, who boasts a judo black belt.

Images of Putin’s action man-type exploits over the years have included macho shots of him overpowering an opponent while training with the national judo team, and of course baring his chest while taking a dip in icy water, fishing or riding the range in southern Siberia.