About this goal
Ronaldo positions a free-kick 25 yards from goal and unleashes an improbable swerving arc that dips just in time to find exactly the postage stamp as David James shrugs his shoulders in disbelief.
Ratings
Aesthetically Pleasing 30/30
Dead balls vary in quality but the way Ronaldo strikes the ball, at that time, had never been seen before.
Technical Difficulty 30/30
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 defeat of Portsmouth.
Standard of Opposition 7/10
Portsmouth
FootballCritic Verdict
One of the most famous free kicks in EPL history, and the motion of the kick remains spellbinding.
Goal video
More Great Goals of Cristiano Ronaldo
| Rank | Name | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Apr 3, 2018 | ||
|
Dani Carvajal flips a cross into the box and Ronaldo stuns the Juventus defence with an outrageous bicycle kick into the corner.
Goal type:
Special  Watch video |
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| 2 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo | May 5, 2009 | ||
|
Man Utd instigate a quickfire counter, with Ronaldo starting the move with a flick into the path of Ji-Sung Park, who in turn finds Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo then sprints to make it into the box and convert the cross from his team-mate.
Goal type:
Team Watch video |
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| 3 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo | Oct 22, 2014 | ||
|
Ronaldo exchanges a one-two with James Rodriguez and swipes a sublime finish into the far corner on the half-volley.
Goal type:
Team Watch video |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
Ronaldo positions a free-kick 25 yards from goal and unleashes an improbable swerving arc that dips just in time to find exactly the postage stamp as David James shrugs his shoulders in disbelief.
Goal type:
Free-Kick Watch video |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo | Nov 7, 2018 | ||
|
Leonardo Bonucci clips a ball over the defence and Ronaldo watches the ball coming over his shoulder before smashing first-time into the net.
Goal type:
Volley Watch video |
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| 6 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
Ronaldo picks up the ball midway through the Almeria half and proceeds to take all all comers with an incisive dribble before drilling a left-footed finish home.
Goal type:
Individual Watch video |
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| 7 |
|
Cristiano Ronaldo | Aug 13, 2017 | ||
|
Real Madrid devastate Barcelona with a quick counter, Ronaldo powering down the wing, standing up to Gerard Pique, before cutting inside to whip an unstoppable finish into the corner.
Goal type:
Individual Watch video |
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