No two players have competed for the grand prize in the past decade, just like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. From dominating soccer games to score-match-winning free-kicks, these two epitomized hard work and passion. Moreover, they had the technique of pulling the rabbit out of the hat with their immaculate wizardry on the ball. With all the kinds of goals they score, free-kicks are a strong point for both players. Simply put, one even revolutionized how a soccer player struck the ball!
When Messi looked for the laser-like curler in the top corner, Ronaldo preferred a more robust approach! He struck the ball so hard that the football deviated in the air and often ended up in the back of the net. But only Ronaldo could pull it off consistently for years. And now, that technique makes its way into physics!
Do you fancy Cristiano Ronaldo to teach you physics?
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Ronaldo’s free-kick against Juventus was deemed relevant enough to be included in the physics textbook by the concerned personnel in Hungary. They placed a picture of Ronaldo attempting the knuckle-ball free-kick technique in front of a four-man wall. With the ball swerving in the air, it defies logic and physics. The Portuguese soccer star is a modern-day marvel at how you strike the ball. When connected, it goes like a rocket past the goalkeeper, which is pretty much unstoppable.
Hungary used a picture of Cristiano shooting a free kick as an example in physics 🐐 pic.twitter.com/axQnGzk2GY
— CristianoXtra (@CristianoXtra_) September 13, 2023
During his illustrious career, Ronaldo scored 60 free-kick goals, and most of them were blinders! There are ones where he curled it in from the center, the wings, and some maybe like a 45-yard screamer like the one against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League in 2009. Thus, his free-kick routine defines physics. Like scientists analyzed Michael Phelps’ body, Ronaldo’s free-kick technique deserves recognition. It is one of a kind!
At the first approach, fans could see he takes 4-5 steps back and positions himself in a V-shape with his legs spread out. After some huffs and puffs, he approaches the ball and strikes the football with so much velocity that the goalkeeper struggles to guess it right! And the most critical part of this iconic routine is the striking of the ball.
The much-fabled knuckleball technique!
The aim is to strike the ball with as little spin as feasible, permitting the inherent asymmetrical airflow around the ball in flight to cause any deviation. With the inconsistent nature of the airflow, the goalkeepers struggled to read the ball and ended up conceding goals. Ronaldo hits the ball slightly underneath the center position to reduce the spin with the instep of his right foot.
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Just like Stephen Curry shoots the ball as swiftly as possible, Ronaldo’s quick follow-through limits the spin and the entire power transfers to the ball. Imagine a ball comes at you with such a pace, and it turns at the last moment because of the airflow. Now, that is physics!
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