via Reuters
Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Liverpool – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – October 24, 2021 Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
via Reuters
Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Liverpool – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – October 24, 2021 Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores their third goal REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his place in the world of football as one of the best players to ever grace the field. He has broken record after record every single year, and he continues to do so even at the age of 37. Ronaldo is currently playing for Manchester United and re-joined the club 12 years after he left them in 2009.
However, things have changed a lot since then. Ronaldo had won the Ballon d’Or one year ago and was one of the best players in the world. That has still remained constant in 2022, but Ronaldo’s entire playing style has changed, one of them being his potency from free kicks.
Ronaldo was one of the best free-kick takers once upon a time and still holds the record for the most free-kicks scored among current players. However, Lionel Messi is close to breaking that record, and will likely break it if Ronaldo does not start scoring again.
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Juan Mata reveals who the best free-kick taker in the world is
The Portuguese forward has scored just one free-kick goal since 2018 and has since lost his touch. It has become so apparent that even his teammates don’t back him on dead-ball situations. Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are United’s two free-kick takers, along with Marcus Rashford and Alex Telles at times.
Moreover, another free-kick specialist at Manchester United, Juan Mata, posted a tweet naming James Ward-Prowse as the best free-kick taker in the world currently. The Southampton star has been sensational with his free-kicks and is surely in contention for the title. However, Ronaldo wouldn’t be too happy knowing what Mata thinks about him.
Best free-kick taker in the world for me right now @Prowsey16 👏. Agreed? https://t.co/DAOZAWZwiQ
— Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) February 18, 2022
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Cristiano Ronaldo and his stats for Manchester United this season
While Ronaldo hasn’t been the best at free kicks, his numbers have looked really good for United. The Portuguese forward has scored nine goals and assisted a further three in 21 Premier League matches this season.
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He has been sensational for the club in the UEFA Champions League, scoring six goals in five games and helping them reach the Round-of-16. It’ll be interesting to see how far United go in the competition, and if they can win it all.
