Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick struggles have become viral fodder over recent weeks.
Each high, wide and wild attempt has been lapped up by CR7’s detractors and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner seems to have decided it was time for a change of tact.
And, boy, did it work wonders.
Deep into first half stoppage time of Al Nassr’s Saudi Pro League match against Al Feiha on Tuesday, Ronaldo and his team-mate Alex Telles stood over a dead ball narrowly outside the opposition penalty area.
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What happened next caught the defensive wall and goalkeeper Abdulraouf Al-Duqayl unawares.
Ronaldo did away with his trademark backwards steps to puff out his chest. Instead, he approached the ball nonchalantly and, rather than crashing his right boot through the ball, simply clipped a measured attempted beyond the wall and in.
Ronaldo made this free kick look EASY 🐐 pic.twitter.com/lzJwiQjnce
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 27, 2024
The usual “SIUUUU” celebration followed but only after Ronaldo found a timely change of pace for the 64th free-kick goal of his storied career.
It was also his 899th professional goal and Ronaldo spurned a glorious chance to reach his latest landmark after the break, lifting over from inside the box as Luis Castro’s team remained 2-0 ahead.
Anderson Talisca opened the scoring for the away side thanks to a Ronaldo assist in the fifth minute.
