The question of Has Cristiano Ronaldo ever scored two free kicks in a match is often asked by football fans, but few would know the answer to that question. Ronaldo’s free-kick prowess is on the decline, but the Portuguese forward is still a feared striker, and his knuckleball technique has made him a threat from long range.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick prowess on the wane
When he was young, Cristiano Ronaldo would routinely bang free-kicks into the top bin. It was one of his trademark moves, and he was also one of the deadliest free-kick manipulators in the game. His knuckle ball technique was revolutionary for its time, allowing him to bang free-kicks into the net no matter where they came from. But now, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for him to bang in free-kicks with that technique. Consequently, his skill level has weakened and his free-kicks are no longer as dangerous.
It’s hard to gauge how much Ronaldo’s free-kick prowss has decreased. But a recent study has shown that Ronaldo’s free-kick power has not diminished due to a lack of lift or surprising movement. This is largely due to the fact that his approach to the ball, trunk angle, swing leg velocity and descent to the ground haven’t changed. Other factors that may be contributing to Ronaldo’s decline in free-kick prowess include football’s structure and the way that players fall.
Since that time, Ronaldo has started “bollocking it” from a distance. He took 527 shots in three seasons, with 60 percent of them from beyond 21 yards. Over time, however, his free-kick prowess has decreased and his goal scoring has decreased. Since the start of the current campaign, Ronaldo has scored just nine free-kick goals in the Premier League.
While his free-kick tally remains very impressive, it seems that the Portuguese superstar’s free-kick prowes deteriorates as he enters the final stages of his career. Despite having the most goals in the world, his free-kick record has declined in recent years. In fact, his free-kick conversion rate has fallen dramatically in the past four years, according to Squawka Football.
After returning from his suspension, Ronaldo has scored just four goals in five appearances for the Portuguese national team. It has been nearly six years since his first international goal against Greece at Euro 2004. Now he’s expected to miss a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday, but he’s a strong candidate to make a comeback in the Nations League and Euro 2020.
The decline in his free-kick goals could be attributed to his lack of playing with specialists in recent years. His recent decision to play in the box instead of taking free kicks might be partly to blame. He also tends to take fewer free-kicks than a free-kick specialist. Messi scores free-kicks at a higher rate than Ronaldo, even though his average free-kicks have halved since his arrival at Real Madrid.
The recent decline in his goal tally is indicative of his decline in quality and consistency. Last season, Ronaldo scored five goals in seven shots against Espanyol, while this season, he has only managed one goal from seven attempts. He also tends to shoot from left of centre or right of centre, which are typical locations for free-kicks. His goals were also rarer in his recent matches, with only two coming from inside the penalty box.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s two freekicks in a match
“It’s a myth that Cristiano Ronaldo can score from freekicks,” said former England striker Ian Wright, referring to the Portuguese superstar’s poor record. In 50 or more attempts in major international tournaments, the Portuguese has managed to net one goal. But his two freekicks against Belgium were far from flawless. He was denied a second attempt by Thibaut Courtois, who saved his first effort.
The second free-kick, which was closer to goal, flew in from a corner. Neither effort should have crossed the goal line; Shay Given’s hand was on it before it found the net. And, as an aside, Newcastle’s wall needs a draught excluder. It would have been much easier if Ronaldo had taken the shot from behind the wall.
The Argentine superstar’s header against Manchester United made history in another way. While his header from a freekick was a rare strike for a European Cup final, his header from a freekick equaled Michel Platini’s record. The goal came after Celta Vigo’s defenders were dropped deep to avoid an offside trap.
The second free-kick came after Ronaldo had already scored the second goal. In the previous match, Juventus beat Torino 2-0. Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick added to Juventus’ 2-0 lead and contributed to the team’s four-goal victory. He left Juventus for Manchester United in the summer of 2021 and has yet to score a free-kick for the Red Devils.
Although there is still no definitive answer to whether or not Ronaldo is better at taking free-kicks than Lionel Messi, it’s certainly an interesting debate. The Uruguayan striker is one of the best free-kick takers of all time and he was considered a world class player in this area during his first spell at Manchester United. In fact, his free-kick from the same match against Zenit Saint Petersburg made him the leading goal scorer at the time.
It’s possible that Ronaldo’s drop in free-kick goals is partly due to his tendency to take fewer free kicks. In recent seasons, the Portuguese international has largely avoided taking free-kicks, preferring to take a position in the box. Furthermore, he’s far less likely to score a free-kick goal than Messi.
In terms of assists, he is also the most prolific player in the Premier League, with 253 goals in just 79 games. He’s a prolific assist producer, with two freekicks in a match in 2010 and one in 2018. This record may not be achieved until the World Cup in 2022. The Portuguese captain also has an impressive list of records, including three UEFA Champions League titles and five UEFA European Championships.
In this game, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in the first half and completed his hat-trick. Although Manchester United had lost to Brighton the previous day, the result will boost their chances of finishing in the top four. Cristiano’s brace in the first half aided his side’s lead and doubled it before halftime. Despite the two goals, Norwich rallied in the second half to force a dramatic final.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s knuckleball technique more effective from distance than Lionel Messi’s
The comparison between the two players’ freekick techniques is particularly interesting when it comes to the knuckleball technique, which Ronaldo uses to smash the ball with his laces. The knuckleball technique allows the ball to hit the net at a greater distance than does the spin technique, giving the goalkeeper less time to adjust and a longer time to snake through the air. Although Ronaldo scores more goals, he takes fewer free kicks than Messi.
Although Messi is more effective from distance, Ronaldo has the edge in executing a perfectly-placed freekick. A thunderbolt from a free-kick against Arsenal in the Champions League final is still the most memorable goal in the competition. Though he does not take free-kicks as often as he did in his early days, he still leads the list of most goals scored from direct free-kicks.
When comparing Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick technique to Messi’s, Dr. Brar notes that the former is a superior free-kick hitter, because he lacks unpredictable movement, while Messi’s technique requires super-charged velocity. The difference in the two players’ free-kick techniques may be due to differences in football structures and flight patterns, but both have been able to score goals from distance.
When compared to the former, Ronaldo has superior technique from distance, but is better at heading in general. His goal scoring skills are unmatched, while Messi has exceptional crossing ability. Messi is a more accurate dribbler, and he prefers to dictate the tempo of the game. However, while Ronaldo has an advantage in the passing department, he is no match for Messi’s talent or speed.
The comparison between Messi’s freekick technique and Ronaldo’s freekick technique is particularly interesting as Ronaldo has more successful freekicks from distance. Ronaldo scored 58 free kick goals in La Liga, while Messi has 58. Messi has more free-kick goals in total, but Ronaldo has a better accuracy rate.
In comparison to Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is better at clutch moments. For example, he scored three goals against Sweden during the 2013 World Cup playoffs, ensuring Portugal’s qualification to the 2014 World Cup. This goal gave Portugal a 3-2 victory and qualified the Portuguese team for the tournament. It was also Messi’s only goal in the previous year’s UEFA Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo ties with Alfredo Di Stefano for the top scoring position in the Spanish League. Ronaldo’s 400th Champions League goal was celebrated in the same match as the winner of the 2014 World Cup. The award was given to Ronaldo on the day of the game. A video of the ceremony was released on ESPN. Cristiano Ronaldo has dedicated his achievement to Eusebio, a teammate who died prematurely due to a knee injury.