About this goal
Ronaldo positions a free-kick 25 yards out and unleashes a swerving arc that dips just in time as David James shrugs his shoulders in disbelief.
Ratings
Aesthetically Pleasing 26/30
Dead balls vary in quality but the way Ronaldo strikes the ball, at that time, had never been seen before.
Technical Difficulty 27/30
It takes a unique skill, and practice, to get the ball to go up and come down on the correct arc.
Uniqueness 20/20
At the time it was one of the most unique ways anyone had struck a free-kick.
Importance 6/10
A goal in a rout of Portsmouth.
Standard of Opposition 7/10
Portsmouth
FootballCritic Verdict
One of the most famous free kicks in Premier League history, and the motion of the kick remains spellbinding.
Goal video
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