Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world of football. In addition to teamwork, exceptional dribbling ability and strategic acumen on the pitch, one of the most notable things about Ronaldo’s game is his kick, which he calls “knuckleball”. By learning the correct techniques, you can kick like Ronaldo in your practice. See Step 1 for more information.
take a free kick
Cristiano Ronaldo is famous for his free kick and the patented knuckleball-style swoop effect that came when he kicked it. To be able to take a Cristiano Ronaldo-style free kick, you need to learn to spin the ball a bit and force it to suddenly plummet while still shooting with precision at full speed that will be hard to hold.
Position the ball with the nipple facing you.
When Ronaldo took a free kick, he always lined up the ball so that his nipple touched his feet. It’s hard to tell if the bunt has a noticeable effect on the ball’s trajectory or is just superstition, but there’s nothing wrong with trying.
Take a few steps back and move to the right.
Ronaldo usually takes 3-5 steps back before taking a free kick. He then stood with both arms down and feet apart, about shoulder-width apart. As soon as he gets close, he uses a “stutter” pattern on his kick. Making a few stutter moves quickly tends to fool goalkeepers and other defenders, so they won’t know exactly when the shot landed.
Place non-kicking legs and arch back body position
Place your other foot to the side of the ball and roll back so your kick angle adjusts to shoot the ball up.
His free kick tends to go up very quickly, looking like it exploded out of his leg. He comes from a fast curve back position just before he touches the ball. If done correctly, the kick will not spin, but will curve upwards, then quickly descend or mute according to the force released on the follow through.
Touch the ball right in the middle with your back
You will touch the ball with long bones in your leg that extend from your big toe to the top of your foot.
Aim for the nipple you are facing at the start of the kick.
To produce a “knuckle ball” effect, you need to avoid turning the ball around a bit. Try to touch the ball right in the middle as often as possible instead of rolling it with your feet.
The most important part of the kick is the follow through. Follow the kick by directing the kicking leg towards which the ball will be thrown, with the body turning towards the target and lifting the non-kicking leg. Stretch your kicking knees up, rather than ending with your legs out to the sides like the traditional follow through.
Imagine that you want to touch your knee with your kicking legs on the chin after touching the ball. If done correctly, the kicking foot will hit the ground first. Now stand back and watch the “knuckle ball” with its unpredictable prowess.
Make a crossover drive and dribble the ball
One of the benefits of Ronaldo’s game is that he likes to share opportunities, finding the best chances for his team to score. It means center and corner kick. He can also move in all directions on the field, playing left, right or center as an attacker. His skillful movements make him one of the best players.
Take the ball to the penalty area
Unlike Beckham, who is famous for his long, graceful, curved, and twisty center, Ronaldo’s center is more like a small pass to the back on a basketball. He carries the ball deep into the opponent’s box, then lobs it back across the field of play towards the team to become a header or shot.
Although he often played on the left side of the field, Ronaldo has alternated positions, depending on the game in progress, and will also go to midfield to make a cross.
Throw the ball to a partner
To throw Ronaldo’s cross, touch the ball with your leg straight and your non-kicking legs behind the ball. Follow up very short to throw the ball as far as possible, so your teammates have a chance to head it.
Develop a cross with both legs.
One of the strangest things about Ronaldo is that he looks just as good using both feet. His cross and shot with his left foot are just as accurate as his cross with his right. Practice with your non-dominant legs by doing dribbling drills with both feet and shooting on goal with the “wrong” leg as much as possible. Train the foundations of your game until the forces of both legs become accurate, albeit retrograde. See more about how to kick like Cristiano Ronaldo
