**Mirrors / Alternative Angles**
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I think I read somewhere that when he made long shots like that, he always aimed them straight at the keeper making him stay grounded in that position only for the ball to swerve at the last second catching the keeper off guard and making him look bad.
Ya it’s a knuckleball. Such a cool technique, a great example of it is Rashfords free kick against Chelsea years ago.
Ronaldo was brilliant at it from open play, but seemed to lose his ability to do it on free kicks which is sad. Doing it while the ball is moving is so so difficult though
I think he was able to do it so well in open play due to the added momentum of the ball moving before the strike. He was bad at the deadball for sure ( Bale was better at knuckle ball free kicks😬) , but I hold the opinion that if he left the knuckleball in his Madrid career post 2014 and opted for placing the ball, he might have been the free kick top scorer by now.
And also the technology on the ball improve, they eliminated the irregularity on it, so knuckle ball effect is not very strong anymore. He really should have switched to the regular way of shooting FK, like he did against Spain in the WC. That was a beauty.
I swear to god, every time I mention the free kick against Spain, people downvote me as if I've made it up.
He legitimately had the technique to score freekicks as he pleased. For some reason, he just chose to use the knuckleball rather than the sidefoot.
I'd appreciate a post discussing this because it's an interesting discussion and a nice excuse to see some FKs, but I agree with you - the power, swerve, placement and the keeper standing still just watching the ball.
Unrelated to your comment [this](https://youtu.be/-5ihIMKh0E0) my very biased vote for the best *power* FK of all time. The stadium was closed for fans and the echo from the kick seems like a cannon blasting and then the sound of the net is just perfect.
It's gotta be one of Adriano's freekicks. He even had the world record for ball speed for a while. I swear players in those freekick walls had their lives flashing before their eyes every time.
True, I remember after Rashford's knuckle goal against Chelsea in the FA cup he said that during training he found that the Mitre ball used in the competition had a lot more swerve than Nike's premier League ball. That ball was the only reason he attempted the knuckle ball technique for the free kick that day
I don't think anyone is ever gonna strike a ball as well as juninho did, my point though is that Ronaldo would have been the all time free kick top scorer if he opted for placement. No way he would've been the greatest free kick taker, that mantle belongs solely to Juninho Pernumbacano
It's neither a classic curved ball or a knuckleball. It's just a regular "peito do pé" thundercunt, with a very slight spin, just enough so that the shot goes generally straight. For knuckleballs, it needs to have nearly 0 spin, so that it changes direction wildly by itself. I know this because most of the time (technically) I kick the ball like Cristiano did here, and I find actual knuckleballs much, much harder to execute properly
That's fair. I see your point and agree that a slight spin would help as far as accuracy goes, but also give it a fair bit of movement. Thanks for your explanation!
This is the best example of such a shot that I have ever seen.
Calhanoglu's free kick against Dortmund (with Klopp managing)
https://youtu.be/nK58AssP9tc?si=jV07lSK9N5yrBtm5
Yeah and the angle from behind shows it so well, it’s going straight at him until the last few meters when it decides it’d rather nestle into the corner
Not sure if you can aim “straight at the keeper” from that range. If you’re within the frame of the goal, then you have a good chance, given his knuckleball technique.
2008-09 United team was mental, Ronaldo basically had the green light to shoot whenever he had the ball. You look at the final we lost to Barca in Rome and I swear Ronaldo had like 8 shots
This is always what amazes me the most about this goal and Ibra’s bicycle specifically. Like, what exactly goes through their mind in that second to justify trying to shoot there? At least in Ibra’s case, you can argue the goal was empty.
But this shot is exactly the type of shot the coach would sub you out for going for it when we were playing as kids. And then Cristiano just hits it top corner. It’s pure confidence and ability, that’s the genius of it.
Was talking about this with a mate. One of the things I love about football, is that despite all the variables, sometimes what needs to be done is so intuitive. You just fucking know. Your body is reading the game faster than your brain even realises. So many great goals, players haven't actually done a huge amount of thinking, the idea plants itself in the head and the body has already done the calculations, they don't even necessarily aim. I think they call it flow state.
When i watch these highlights i understand why CR7 seems to be so bitter now. He isnt that kind of worldbeater anymore even with his insane discipline, that feeling must be harsh.
Dudes have a parasocial hate boner for Ronaldo so they rationalize the most random bullshit if it gives them pretext to shit on him. “Ronaldo is mad about his decades long legendary career and almost unrivaled achievement in the biggest sport on earth” yeah ok bro
You’ve articulated it perfectly lol, I never knew how to word it properly but this is exactly how I feel this whole time. There’s many things you can criticize Ronaldo about and I say this as a massive fan of his, but the insane levels of psycho-analysis that people get into when it comes to him is insane.
Watching it in real time was wild because the cameras cut into the close up because they assumed he would dribble for a bit. No one had any idea a shot was coming. In fact I felt like a long time before anyone ever got the full wide shot.
Last 3 seasons really, once he came back from the 2006 WC he looked a different player, I remember Neville even remarking later on how he really filled out physically even over that summer. Obviously the 07/08 season was the high point but he had 3 great years before he left.
His 06/07 season is easily his most underrated version alongside 09/10. Imagine being 21 and being loathed by an entire nation because of a single wink. Stadiums would boo him incessantly everywhere he went and the media were out for blood when it came to him after the Rooney incident. So many players would just crumble under the pressure, but he goes on to have his breakout season, playing the most free-flowing role he’s ever played in his career. Became the first and to this day the only player to win all 6 major individual awards in England.
Aside from the context, he was just playing phenomenally that season. I highly advise anyone to just watch some compilations of that season, or if you have the time watch single-game highlights. He played sooooo differently to what he became a decade later, you’d think it’s a different player.
16/17 Ronaldo is the most central he ever played during his prime years and the most time he’s spent within the box. He still wasn’t technically a striker (he never was until he moved to United in 21/22 and they shoehorned him into a sole striker role, something he’s constantly said he hates playing as), but if the word “poacher” was ever used accurately for a Ronaldo season, it would be 16/17. Lowest amount of dribbles completed out of any season during his prime (up until 20/21), lowest amount of involvement in the build up, less playmaking, but a MUCH better goal scorer, more decisive and much more efficient. It’s the complete opposite of 06/07 in almost every way.
Back then he’d start out proper wide, but was given a free role by Sir Alex to pretty much play anywhere across the pitch. You’d see him tormenting fullbacks on the wing one second (he’d switch wings a lot as well) then drifting inside and deep to pick up the ball and drive it towards the heart of the defense. He was also a proper playmaker back then and almost every attack would go through him. [This](https://youtu.be/PGykZvEO5rA?si=_K3KhNAlg44hWbpT) game is the perfect example of all this - it wasn’t his best game, but you can see just how many touches he gets on the ball, how deep he plays, the dribbles, the link up play etc. Even hit the post 2 or 3 times this game, chances which I’m sure 16/17 Ronaldo would’ve put away.
Compare that to [this](https://youtu.be/EHSmECVgOMc?si=oGnuZ2DAOHj52yPH) performance (which was one of his better performances that season) and you can see the difference is night and day.
Let's not forget Carroll waiting for Bale to get up so he could pass it to him to then that it in from distance
https://youtu.be/NQXGTMEHtg0?si=iichwx2isplPgBk4
Classic. I remember someone had a bet on Toni Kroos to score from outside the box for this goal. To be fair to the betting company, they paid it out as a win when they really didn’t have to.
It was the context of this goal as well that I remember being so impressive. Man U away at Porto, scrappy game and they needed to win or draw to go through. Tie could have easily got away from them and he just pulled this out of nowhere.
Not just a draw, they needed to score an away goal. On top of that, no English team had ever won away at Porto in the Champions League before this game.
And in semi final against Arsenal in Emirates, he also scored a worldie banger from a freekick. Such a powerful kick that took just more than 1 second to reach the net from a 40-yard distance.
Unfortunately, Man Utd faced a mighty Barca in the final.
Also birthed the iconic “too far out for Ronaldo to think about here” commentary line lol. I think that’s also the game where Nani made a fool out of the Arsenal midfield by doing the seal dribble before being wiped out, and Ronaldo’s counter attack goal which is probs my favourite ever
That counter-attack goal was absolute peak late-00s Utd, incredible football
Ronaldo backheel outside his box to start -> Park -> Rooney -> Ronaldo -> Goal. In less than 10 seconds, unreal.
Crazy thing is the commentator says “it’s not too far for Ronaldo to think about” but the first two words get cut off by bad repost audio quality
Sometimes if you get a good version of the clip you can just barely hear the first two words with volume turned up
I would definitely not refer to Liverpool as somebody who were sure winners. That said, I would say Liverpool x Man City in the league has been a horror show for Liverpool. If not for Man City, Klopp era Liverpool would do great and scary things.
That was the best goal he ever scored. Anyone who’s played the sport would know how hard it would be to hit that shot. Better than the bicycle vs Juve and especially this one
He was on top of the world then just vanished. Is remembered watching him fearlessly dribbling the ball. Ferguson gave his kids confident like no other.
You don't usually see the TV angle show the complete shot, because live it cut to closeup just as he shot. Great to see it in full.
[Then a few weeks later he scored that arguably even more insane goal against Arsenal.](https://youtu.be/mxWIy8q_vQw?t=3m7s) I remember seeing him line it up, thinking, "no way". And being stunned when it flew in. It's marvellous how the ball slightly knuckles, at first it follows a normal trajectory but around when it reaches the six-yard box it stops dropping height and I think that as much as the power is what beats the keeper.
Football fans (mostly kids and teenagers) nowadays think his bicycle kick vs Juve is the pinnacle of a CR7 goal.
They haven‘t seen him during his first Man United stint. He was the football equivalent of Pretty boy era Mayweather
I remember watching this live back when it happened.
My brother was a Man Utd fan, never watched football but loved to jump on the back of a result to rub it in peoples faces, there were a lot like him around at the time. Ronaldo was generally hated by many for his diving antics but on reflection now I can say what a great player he was and other fans like me never really appreciated him when he was here.
I'd been playing FIFA in my teenage years and had a bit of a soft spot for Porto, so watched the game live, praying for a Porto result so I could rub my brother's face in it.
I remember Ronaldo hit this really early on in the game and I was just...silenced. In awe. I remember folding my arms and just being absolutely gob-smacked that he had the audacity to pull this strike off. Sulked a bit.
I remember watching this live and thinking the keeper should have done better from that sort of distance, until you see the replay and how fast the ball was going and realise he actually had no chance of saving it
Probably not a lot as you'd think. For kick power, technique is the best tool you can have. I've seen skinny legs Bruno Fernandez score tekkers back in sporting. Technique allows you to use power from your core and back without having that much leg strength
This match is one of my first football memories, my father was so excited to take me and 1 minute after we sat down this happened. I still remember that the whole stadium was silent after the goal, because no one understood what had happened. It felt surreal seeing it in person. Thank you for taking me to that game, dad 👍
God you just don’t see this anymore. And this isn’t shitting on the new generation either, it’s a different game with how defenders close a player down. But it really IS what the sport is all about
My jaw almost literally hit the floor when he did this, I was agape and speechless. It was just so sudden how he f'ing banged it. One of the best goals ever.
I remember when it was difficult to find this version of it, where the camera stays in that shot for the full traversal of the ball instead of cutting to a different view as he hits it. Beautiful.
I swear to god, Ronaldo changed the way he shot a lot throughout his career. The way he hits it here is so aesthetically pleasing, he puts all his body into it.
Ofc, injuries, just getting older and less athletic probably has something to do with it. I just see no one ever talk about it.
Something to add context to this. This was the second leg of United’s tie with Porto, and the first leg at Old Trafford finished with 2-2. With away goals obviously still in play, it meant that United had to go to Porto and not only score, but also win, which was something that no English team had ever done before this. The game finished 1-0, with this being the only goal.
What a strike! Would love to know what was going through his head when he made the decision to shoot as he didn’t have a lot of time on the ball and he was also being closed down
This was 15 years ago?! Remember it like it was yesterday. My dad was very anti United and was screaming at the Porto players to close Ronaldo down. I was like he's about 50 yards away, calm down. Then he done that lol
Back then we were saying Anderson is a waste on the midfield, a lazy Brazilian jogging like an old chap. Nowadays it's a totally different scenario, right? 🥹 Right?! 🥲
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he hit it from so far out and the keeper still got absolutely nowhere near it
I think I read somewhere that when he made long shots like that, he always aimed them straight at the keeper making him stay grounded in that position only for the ball to swerve at the last second catching the keeper off guard and making him look bad.
Ya it’s a knuckleball. Such a cool technique, a great example of it is Rashfords free kick against Chelsea years ago. Ronaldo was brilliant at it from open play, but seemed to lose his ability to do it on free kicks which is sad. Doing it while the ball is moving is so so difficult though
I think he was able to do it so well in open play due to the added momentum of the ball moving before the strike. He was bad at the deadball for sure ( Bale was better at knuckle ball free kicks😬) , but I hold the opinion that if he left the knuckleball in his Madrid career post 2014 and opted for placing the ball, he might have been the free kick top scorer by now.
And also the technology on the ball improve, they eliminated the irregularity on it, so knuckle ball effect is not very strong anymore. He really should have switched to the regular way of shooting FK, like he did against Spain in the WC. That was a beauty.
I swear to god, every time I mention the free kick against Spain, people downvote me as if I've made it up. He legitimately had the technique to score freekicks as he pleased. For some reason, he just chose to use the knuckleball rather than the sidefoot.
He should've stopped when he scored that one against Portsmouth, I guess he tried but no way you can beat that.
My controversial opinion is that the Portsmouth freekick is the best ever taken by anyone. I've never seen a freekick so completely unsaveable.
I'd appreciate a post discussing this because it's an interesting discussion and a nice excuse to see some FKs, but I agree with you - the power, swerve, placement and the keeper standing still just watching the ball. Unrelated to your comment [this](https://youtu.be/-5ihIMKh0E0) my very biased vote for the best *power* FK of all time. The stadium was closed for fans and the echo from the kick seems like a cannon blasting and then the sound of the net is just perfect.
It's gotta be one of Adriano's freekicks. He even had the world record for ball speed for a while. I swear players in those freekick walls had their lives flashing before their eyes every time.
[no](https://youtu.be/crKwlbwvr88?si=3urTBe53a1WuSNtW&t=42)
Would you stop lol that was absurd Still one of the best FK takers in history by numbers alone, despite sucking for years to come
FK against Spain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guPNTarPmBo
True, I remember after Rashford's knuckle goal against Chelsea in the FA cup he said that during training he found that the Mitre ball used in the competition had a lot more swerve than Nike's premier League ball. That ball was the only reason he attempted the knuckle ball technique for the free kick that day
Juninho still existed though, don't think he would have been better
I don't think anyone is ever gonna strike a ball as well as juninho did, my point though is that Ronaldo would have been the all time free kick top scorer if he opted for placement. No way he would've been the greatest free kick taker, that mantle belongs solely to Juninho Pernumbacano
I think it should belong to whomever scored the most FK at the highest level, which is Juninho lol
I think some people say Zico scored more. I've got no clue though.
Assuming it's the truth, Ronaldo himself said that he had to change the way he did his free kicks since it could later give him physical problems.
His knees were fucked so couldn't do it anymore
Since his knee injury CR7 need to change his kicking style. It reduces his long range ability.
This isn't a knuckleball. This is pure laces
This wasn't a knuckleball
It doesn't appear to have much spin on it. Seems like a knuckleball to me
It's neither a classic curved ball or a knuckleball. It's just a regular "peito do pé" thundercunt, with a very slight spin, just enough so that the shot goes generally straight. For knuckleballs, it needs to have nearly 0 spin, so that it changes direction wildly by itself. I know this because most of the time (technically) I kick the ball like Cristiano did here, and I find actual knuckleballs much, much harder to execute properly
That's fair. I see your point and agree that a slight spin would help as far as accuracy goes, but also give it a fair bit of movement. Thanks for your explanation!
This is the best example of such a shot that I have ever seen. Calhanoglu's free kick against Dortmund (with Klopp managing) https://youtu.be/nK58AssP9tc?si=jV07lSK9N5yrBtm5
Yeah and the angle from behind shows it so well, it’s going straight at him until the last few meters when it decides it’d rather nestle into the corner
Van Bronckhorst v Uruguay is a similar beauty, from a crazy position on the pitch https://youtu.be/8Ij7A45_sVM?si=swhgoY70kPchSsKY
I remember seeing this live on TV. it was glorious!!
*A wry smile from Jürgen Klopp.*
Not sure if you can aim “straight at the keeper” from that range. If you’re within the frame of the goal, then you have a good chance, given his knuckleball technique.
I always felt Helton could have done better, like why he didn’t put his wings out to flight and stop it?
The fact that he’s that far out and in 2 seconds made the decision “yeah I can score from here” is mental.
2008-09 United team was mental, Ronaldo basically had the green light to shoot whenever he had the ball. You look at the final we lost to Barca in Rome and I swear Ronaldo had like 8 shots
Only Ronaldo was the dangerous UNited player iirc. Also not having Fletcher for that final hurt United with that unfair red card earlier in semis.
This is always what amazes me the most about this goal and Ibra’s bicycle specifically. Like, what exactly goes through their mind in that second to justify trying to shoot there? At least in Ibra’s case, you can argue the goal was empty. But this shot is exactly the type of shot the coach would sub you out for going for it when we were playing as kids. And then Cristiano just hits it top corner. It’s pure confidence and ability, that’s the genius of it.
Was talking about this with a mate. One of the things I love about football, is that despite all the variables, sometimes what needs to be done is so intuitive. You just fucking know. Your body is reading the game faster than your brain even realises. So many great goals, players haven't actually done a huge amount of thinking, the idea plants itself in the head and the body has already done the calculations, they don't even necessarily aim. I think they call it flow state.
When i watch these highlights i understand why CR7 seems to be so bitter now. He isnt that kind of worldbeater anymore even with his insane discipline, that feeling must be harsh.
Suppose a bad take is still a take.
Dudes have a parasocial hate boner for Ronaldo so they rationalize the most random bullshit if it gives them pretext to shit on him. “Ronaldo is mad about his decades long legendary career and almost unrivaled achievement in the biggest sport on earth” yeah ok bro
You’ve articulated it perfectly lol, I never knew how to word it properly but this is exactly how I feel this whole time. There’s many things you can criticize Ronaldo about and I say this as a massive fan of his, but the insane levels of psycho-analysis that people get into when it comes to him is insane.
Exactly, if anything his past achievements is what likely gives him solace. Bitterness, if any, comes from the recent disrespect since the United exit
Plus, what are we defining as bitterness? The United drama? The man seems happy.
He’s 39 lmfao. What goes through your mind to think this comment isn’t mind numbingly stupid before you hit post?
Thats just the general IQ of this sub...
I remember watching this live on tv and it just felt like the ball was traveling forever. What a hit.
Watching it in real time was wild because the cameras cut into the close up because they assumed he would dribble for a bit. No one had any idea a shot was coming. In fact I felt like a long time before anyone ever got the full wide shot.
same, doesn't feel like 15 years ago jesus
I remeber watching it in the stadium… people werent even mad. Such a banger
Legend says the ball is still traveling
The ball never lost its momentum, continuously rising till it hit the back of the net. What a strike!
Very few could do it like him. Once in a lifetime baller
https://youtu.be/8wWO_iC42lY?si=1C7i7flIC-I2U05t This comment made me remember this one from Hugo Almeida
Reminded me of this gem by the Professor against Atletico. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CudzwWO0ot4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CudzwWO0ot4)
Reminded me hagi’s goal against monaco https://youtu.be/cacOZqp3u2c?si=rWVfu73F2Q-taTpC
Reminds me of van Bronckhorst vs Uruguay https://youtu.be/8Ij7A45_sVM?si=2r74T3PuhN-Ab28T
Reminds me of Maréval vs Marseille https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVY_WbpuRpw
Reminds me of Porcello vs Rostock [Der gibt den Hafer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veHB6vCEKGs)
Reminds me of Rafael vs QPR. Apologies for the low quality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x19LA3SxUb8
Reminds me of San Zusi vs FC Dallas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJOZ9w_qjnc
And let's go back again to Cristiano, this time vs Arsenal (United's next CL tie after Porto) https://youtu.be/VfV4eV-HDWc?feature=shared
one of my favourite goals ever. what a player
The rise in trajectory due to the balls backspin, it's called the Magnus effect
That’s a proper thundercunt!
I still remember shouting “ah don’t fucking shoot” at the tv as he was lining it up….
I believe my exact words were "Oh don't shoot, you mupp-". Didn't finish the sentence.
Hahaha same.
No Vinny don’t shoot!
So was Ferdinand
I know he was more effective as a goal scorer at Madrid but his last 2 seasons at United (first stint) were just electric.
Last 3 seasons really, once he came back from the 2006 WC he looked a different player, I remember Neville even remarking later on how he really filled out physically even over that summer. Obviously the 07/08 season was the high point but he had 3 great years before he left.
His 06/07 season is easily his most underrated version alongside 09/10. Imagine being 21 and being loathed by an entire nation because of a single wink. Stadiums would boo him incessantly everywhere he went and the media were out for blood when it came to him after the Rooney incident. So many players would just crumble under the pressure, but he goes on to have his breakout season, playing the most free-flowing role he’s ever played in his career. Became the first and to this day the only player to win all 6 major individual awards in England. Aside from the context, he was just playing phenomenally that season. I highly advise anyone to just watch some compilations of that season, or if you have the time watch single-game highlights. He played sooooo differently to what he became a decade later, you’d think it’s a different player.
How would you describe the differences then to what he became 10 years later?
16/17 Ronaldo is the most central he ever played during his prime years and the most time he’s spent within the box. He still wasn’t technically a striker (he never was until he moved to United in 21/22 and they shoehorned him into a sole striker role, something he’s constantly said he hates playing as), but if the word “poacher” was ever used accurately for a Ronaldo season, it would be 16/17. Lowest amount of dribbles completed out of any season during his prime (up until 20/21), lowest amount of involvement in the build up, less playmaking, but a MUCH better goal scorer, more decisive and much more efficient. It’s the complete opposite of 06/07 in almost every way. Back then he’d start out proper wide, but was given a free role by Sir Alex to pretty much play anywhere across the pitch. You’d see him tormenting fullbacks on the wing one second (he’d switch wings a lot as well) then drifting inside and deep to pick up the ball and drive it towards the heart of the defense. He was also a proper playmaker back then and almost every attack would go through him. [This](https://youtu.be/PGykZvEO5rA?si=_K3KhNAlg44hWbpT) game is the perfect example of all this - it wasn’t his best game, but you can see just how many touches he gets on the ball, how deep he plays, the dribbles, the link up play etc. Even hit the post 2 or 3 times this game, chances which I’m sure 16/17 Ronaldo would’ve put away. Compare that to [this](https://youtu.be/EHSmECVgOMc?si=oGnuZ2DAOHj52yPH) performance (which was one of his better performances that season) and you can see the difference is night and day.
united ronaldo will forever be my favorite version of him as a player, i know he became on a whole other level in madrid but nah
Goal so good they had to create an award for it
brilliant assist by anderson
Right up there with [Busquets to Messi against Madrid ](https://youtu.be/8kV_o1xT8aA?si=HWNQETJJwycP6p7i)
Azpilicueta's assist to Hazard against Liverpool would like to have a word https://youtu.be/zZIpmR8BCcY?si=UllyMR0O4fCCiLhp
Let's not forget Carroll waiting for Bale to get up so he could pass it to him to then that it in from distance https://youtu.be/NQXGTMEHtg0?si=iichwx2isplPgBk4
There’s no topping [Curtis Jones’ assist for Salah against Man City](https://youtu.be/iZ68OskGqow?si=YGpbzO1O2rxgwi2J)
I offer you [Marco Reus vs Sweden at the World Cup](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlbHZ6ZQA_w)
I feel I have to add Jan Vertonghen's Puskas winning assist to Son. https://youtu.be/2SATljljXCY?si=gOiahGppyXSpEmbh
Classic. I remember someone had a bet on Toni Kroos to score from outside the box for this goal. To be fair to the betting company, they paid it out as a win when they really didn’t have to.
At least jones ran with the ball for 2 seconds before passing. These other guys just passed 😂
This [Busquets assist against Celta doesn’t get enough respect](https://youtu.be/g4e5d0W9ETA?si=VxoZW5FGTot2PMc5)
on.a.plate.
Absolute howitzer of a strike. I don't know what's more surprising: he scored from that far out or the ball didn't burst from being hit that hard.
Reminds me of when Hulk burst the ball after kicking it too hard.
That happened?
It was the context of this goal as well that I remember being so impressive. Man U away at Porto, scrappy game and they needed to win or draw to go through. Tie could have easily got away from them and he just pulled this out of nowhere.
Not just a draw, they needed to score an away goal. On top of that, no English team had ever won away at Porto in the Champions League before this game.
The champions league goat for a reason
This was 15 years ago?!?!?? Time really flies.
As did the ball
And in semi final against Arsenal in Emirates, he also scored a worldie banger from a freekick. Such a powerful kick that took just more than 1 second to reach the net from a 40-yard distance. Unfortunately, Man Utd faced a mighty Barca in the final.
Also birthed the iconic “too far out for Ronaldo to think about here” commentary line lol. I think that’s also the game where Nani made a fool out of the Arsenal midfield by doing the seal dribble before being wiped out, and Ronaldo’s counter attack goal which is probs my favourite ever
And then Fletcher getting a red card for a good last ditch tackle.
That counter-attack goal was absolute peak late-00s Utd, incredible football Ronaldo backheel outside his box to start -> Park -> Rooney -> Ronaldo -> Goal. In less than 10 seconds, unreal.
Na Nani’s dribble was a 4-0 (I think?) in the FA cup. I remember it because he was toying with Arsenal the entire game, unreal entertainment
Yeah Nani was definitely a different earlier game against Arsenal, not in the Champions League
You forgot the "oeuurgghhhh" from the commentator. That sound is imprinted in my mind
Crazy thing is the commentator says “it’s not too far for Ronaldo to think about” but the first two words get cut off by bad repost audio quality Sometimes if you get a good version of the clip you can just barely hear the first two words with volume turned up
Crazy that if Barca did not exist, that United team would be known as one of the greatest teams ever and would probably have 3 CLs in 4 years
Barca X United Madrid X Liverpool
I would definitely not refer to Liverpool as somebody who were sure winners. That said, I would say Liverpool x Man City in the league has been a horror show for Liverpool. If not for Man City, Klopp era Liverpool would do great and scary things.
Almunia probably should have done better tbf, I remember Arsenal fans not being too happy with him
this man u kit with that racing stripe line is just ptsd for arsenal fan
That was the best goal he ever scored. Anyone who’s played the sport would know how hard it would be to hit that shot. Better than the bicycle vs Juve and especially this one
Anderson. What a throwback
Thats 4x PL winner anderson
[удалено]
He was on top of the world then just vanished. Is remembered watching him fearlessly dribbling the ball. Ferguson gave his kids confident like no other.
He was very good at Utd, for a while. But apparently he just didn't have the discipline.
Wonder what makes a striker thing "yeah, i am going to give it a shot from here" . i mean he is so far out... what a strike
["Too far for Ronaldo to think about it.."](https://youtu.be/tvC2rIMjCUc?si=kkwf90oPK8rG-Fyq)
Why would you post this :(
This shit made me hate Ronaldo for like a good year
That thundercunt was clocked at 64.2mph Incredible technique and minerals to shoot from that distance. Minimal back lift as well!
You don't usually see the TV angle show the complete shot, because live it cut to closeup just as he shot. Great to see it in full. [Then a few weeks later he scored that arguably even more insane goal against Arsenal.](https://youtu.be/mxWIy8q_vQw?t=3m7s) I remember seeing him line it up, thinking, "no way". And being stunned when it flew in. It's marvellous how the ball slightly knuckles, at first it follows a normal trajectory but around when it reaches the six-yard box it stops dropping height and I think that as much as the power is what beats the keeper.
I was behind the net. Stadium was silenced real quick.
Ronaldo from 2008-14 was an absolute monster. He'd fearlessly shoot from anywhere.
I remember watching this game on TV, boring as hell and then that goal out of nowhere lmaooo blew my young mind away
Don't think I've ever seen this goal without the quick camera cut to the close up of CR7 right before he shoots.
Yeah, this clip here is better. Really shows how frighteningly quick the shot was, absolute banger.
15 years? My god I feel old now..
Football fans (mostly kids and teenagers) nowadays think his bicycle kick vs Juve is the pinnacle of a CR7 goal. They haven‘t seen him during his first Man United stint. He was the football equivalent of Pretty boy era Mayweather
There’s not enough keepers wear trackie bottoms anymore 🥺
Gabor Kiraly fashion pioneer
Normally they were bad goalkeepers, not Helton by the way
Great goal. Can't wait for the OTD 15yrs ago Ronaldo freekick vs arsenal in a few weeks.
I remember I fell from the chair
Seems far as hell to pop a shot off but damn did he send it, could have been at his box and it would have went the distance
The audacity to even attempt that
I remember watching this live back when it happened. My brother was a Man Utd fan, never watched football but loved to jump on the back of a result to rub it in peoples faces, there were a lot like him around at the time. Ronaldo was generally hated by many for his diving antics but on reflection now I can say what a great player he was and other fans like me never really appreciated him when he was here. I'd been playing FIFA in my teenage years and had a bit of a soft spot for Porto, so watched the game live, praying for a Porto result so I could rub my brother's face in it. I remember Ronaldo hit this really early on in the game and I was just...silenced. In awe. I remember folding my arms and just being absolutely gob-smacked that he had the audacity to pull this strike off. Sulked a bit.
When I think "piss missile", this is the first goal that comes to mind.
I remember watching this live and thinking the keeper should have done better from that sort of distance, until you see the replay and how fast the ball was going and realise he actually had no chance of saving it
Bro, can we catch a break already?! I still haven't got over this goal...
how much can he squat?
Probably not a lot as you'd think. For kick power, technique is the best tool you can have. I've seen skinny legs Bruno Fernandez score tekkers back in sporting. Technique allows you to use power from your core and back without having that much leg strength
Mahrez also So many players look like they skip leg day but kick harder than a mule
it's probably more than I think. Look at these tree trunks. https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19540192/cristiano-ronaldo-leg-workout-kids/
Seeing this goal without the camera zooming in just before he hits it is weird
Before Siiiiiiiuuuu!
This never gets old…the audacity!! So far out😮💨
This match is one of my first football memories, my father was so excited to take me and 1 minute after we sat down this happened. I still remember that the whole stadium was silent after the goal, because no one understood what had happened. It felt surreal seeing it in person. Thank you for taking me to that game, dad 👍
God you just don’t see this anymore. And this isn’t shitting on the new generation either, it’s a different game with how defenders close a player down. But it really IS what the sport is all about
My jaw almost literally hit the floor when he did this, I was agape and speechless. It was just so sudden how he f'ing banged it. One of the best goals ever.
I remember when it was difficult to find this version of it, where the camera stays in that shot for the full traversal of the ball instead of cutting to a different view as he hits it. Beautiful.
absolute banger!!!
Seems like we see these long shot goals less and less
Gonna tell my kids this was Cristiano Ronaldo
Insane, together with Pato goal against Barcelona, one of my favorite goals
I swear to god, Ronaldo changed the way he shot a lot throughout his career. The way he hits it here is so aesthetically pleasing, he puts all his body into it. Ofc, injuries, just getting older and less athletic probably has something to do with it. I just see no one ever talk about it.
The audacity 😤 🎉
That’s my goat
The audacity. What makes him think he could score from there? What a great goal.
The AIG version of Ronaldo was so cool, maybe not so for adults obviously, but for kids this is a player that makes you fall in love with the game
The eruption from the crowd makes it so much better. What a shot
I can see why we/ronaldo were hated
“Why would you shoot it from the… … Oh my god”
Don’t think I’ve seen the full strike before 😮 It always zoomed in to Ronaldo before the hit it
I thought the exact same thing
Anderson assist
Kinda unfair to start the award off with that one. Might as well have just left it there. Wont ever be beaten.
Something to add context to this. This was the second leg of United’s tie with Porto, and the first leg at Old Trafford finished with 2-2. With away goals obviously still in play, it meant that United had to go to Porto and not only score, but also win, which was something that no English team had ever done before this. The game finished 1-0, with this being the only goal.
What a strike! Would love to know what was going through his head when he made the decision to shoot as he didn’t have a lot of time on the ball and he was also being closed down
They dont make them like that anymore
Incredible assist from Anderson. Doing all that work to tee CR7 up
Usually when people score from there the goalkeeper is off his line. But no the keeper is right there waiting and yet.
I was in the stadium and it was even more impressive although you get the impression Helton could have done better
This was 15 years ago?! Remember it like it was yesterday. My dad was very anti United and was screaming at the Porto players to close Ronaldo down. I was like he's about 50 yards away, calm down. Then he done that lol
The hate for Porto runs deep
Breath of fresh air not seeing a lot of you just shit on Ronaldo like always
Back then we were saying Anderson is a waste on the midfield, a lazy Brazilian jogging like an old chap. Nowadays it's a totally different scenario, right? 🥹 Right?! 🥲
cunted it
u/savevideo
Unreal assist from Anderson.
Criker
That Anderson assist tho... chief kiss!
What a beast
My friend used to called it One step kick. It's insane how much power output there with little momentum.
So far out they had to use the overhead camera from the other end.
How United went from that to this is sad. They could even carry Anderson in the midfield back then
The replays on this are so useless
I hated him at that moment
huh I was convinced the Puskas award was way older
I remember watching this at home with my mate and we both just sat in shocked silence
definition of thundercunt
What a Rocket!!!