As football fans of the current generation, each and every one of us should be proud to be able to witness some of the best players to have ever played this beautiful game. The likes of Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Neymar Jr and Antoine Griezmann are among the best players in the world at the moment but one player who is only getting better the older he gets is the Portuguese star, Cristiano Ronaldo. Helping his Real Madrid side to a Champions League title and his national side to the EURO 16 title, Ronaldo has had a memorable 2016 and he will be hoping to finish it off with some good performances in the last few games of the year. He is known for his skill and ability with the ball on the field while his dead ball ability is next to a very few in the history of the game. He has – over the years – produced some brilliant free-kick goals from impossible distances and angles and is easily one of the best free-kick taker the game has ever seen. On that note, here are his top 5 free-kicks ever in his time in England and Spain:
Real Madrid vs APOEL (Champions League; 201):
In what will be remembered as one of his best free-kicks ever, Cristiano Ronaldo pulled out an absolute stunner from an improbable angle in an 8-2 victory against minnows APOEL. He picked up a free kick outside the box one the left-side but Ronaldo decided to curl it past the far post with the keeper having no chance to get to it. Though inconsequential, it is one of the best free-kick goals ever.
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (Champions League; 2014):
In a European journey that ended with a title, the 10th one, the Spanish outfit were drawn with German giants Bayern Munich but made light work of them winning the home leg 1-0 and dominating the second 3-0 even before 80 minutes. With the game and the tie almost done and dusted, Ronaldo picked up a free-kick just outside the box, placed the ball with purpose and did something very few would even try to. He calmly snuck the ball under the feet of a jumping German ball to beat Manuel Neuer all ends up in one of the best free-kicks ever.
Arsenal vs Manchester United (Champions League; 2009):
Probably the most important goal on the list, Cristiano Ronaldo thumped a 40-yeard free-kick past Manuel Almunia at the Emirates beating the keeper with sheer pace and swerve. It was at a distance which would have seen most players attempt a cross but Ronaldo, who already scored a goal earlier in the game, found the back of the net with precision and helped Manchester United into the Champions League final that season 4-2 on aggregate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jft770cXzmA
Manchester United vs Europe XI (Friendly; 2007):
Playing against the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andrea Pirlo in the other team, Cristiano Ronaldo produced yet another master class on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome. He took on Santiago Canizares from 30-years out in a free-kick that will not be forgotten easily. He tricked the shot-stopper into shuffling to one end, while smartly bending the ball into the top corner at the other end with hawk-like precision before jumping into celebration. The match will surely be remembered for a long time for this goal.
Manchester United vs Portsmouth (Premier League; 2008):
Pace, accuracy, curve and anything else that is needed from a free-kick can be seen in this master-class from Cristiano Ronaldo, which till date, stands as one of the best goals he has ever scored. Though the free-kick was not from too far away, the Portuguese hero got the ball to swerve slightly to the left and then into the right top corner leaving David James on Portsmouth’s goal bewildered. Ronaldo is still capable of producing such hits, making him one of the best players to ever play the game.
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