Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his free-kick abilities are a major component of his success on the pitch. Throughout his illustrious career, which began in 2002, Ronaldo has scored an impressive 59 free kicks. His conversion rate stands at just over six percent, a testament to his skill and precision.
Ronaldo’s first goal for Manchester United, where he honed his craft as a young player, came from a free-kick in November 2003. Since then, he has established himself as one of the finest dead-ball specialists in the game, scoring iconic goals like his 40-yard strike against Arsenal in the 2009 Champions League semi-finals.
Despite his remarkable free-kick record, Ronaldo’s prowess in this area has somewhat diminished over the last decade or so. During his last four years at Real Madrid, he managed only nine free-kick goals, while his three-year stint at Juventus yielded just one. His return to Manchester United saw him score just one free-kick goal as well.
Despite this decline, Ronaldo is still a potent threat from free-kicks, and his teammates often share the responsibility with him. When not taking a free-kick, he positions himself in the box in anticipation of the ball dropping his way. Ronaldo’s remarkable skill and prowess from set-pieces continue to make him a formidable opponent for any team.
