Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world of football. Besides teamwork, exceptional dribbling ability and strategic acumen on the field, one of the most notable things about Ronaldo’s game is his kick, which he calls a “knuckle ball.” By learning the correct techniques, you can do a 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 knuckle-style spin that emerged when he kicked it. To be able to take a free kick the Cristiano Ronaldo way, you have to learn to spin the ball just a little bit and force it to drop suddenly while shooting with precision at full speed that will be difficult to hold.
Place 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 is difficult to know if the touch has a noticeable effect on the trajectory of the ball or is it just superstition, but there is 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. Then he stood with both arms down and his feet flared out, about shoulder-width apart. As soon as he gets close, he uses a “stutter” pattern to his kick. Doing some stuttering moves quickly tends to outwit goalies and other defenders, so they won’t know exactly when the kick landed.
Place non-kicking legs and back arched body position
Place your other foot on the side of the ball and roll it back so the kick angle is adjusted to launch the ball upward.
His free kick tends to rise very quickly, looking like it exploded in his leg. It comes from a quick curved back position just before you hit the ball. If done correctly, the kick will not twist but instead curve upward, then rapidly lower or mute according to the force released in the follow-up.
Touch the ball right in the middle with your back.
You will touch the ball with long bones in the leg that extend from the big toe to the top of the foot.
Aim for the nipple you are facing at the beginning of the kick.
To produce a “knuckle ball” effect it is necessary to prevent the ball from spinning slightly. 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. Continue the kick by directing the kicking leg toward which the ball will be shot, with the body turning toward the target and lifting the non-kicking leg. Straighten your knees as you come up, rather than ending with your legs at the sides as in the traditional follow-up.
Imagine that you want to touch your knees with the legs that kick your chin after touching the ball. If done correctly, the kicking foot will hit the ground first. Now step back and watch the “knuckle ball” with your unpredictable dexterity.
Cross forward and dribble the ball
One of the benefits of Ronaldo’s game is that he likes to share opportunities, to find the best opportunities for his team to score. It means a cross and a corner kick. He can also move in all directions on the field, playing left, right or in the middle as an attacker. His skillful movements make him one of the best players.
Take the ball to the penalty area
Unlike Beckham, famous for his long, graceful cross curved with many rounds, Ronaldo’s cross looks more like a small back pass on a basketball. He carries the ball deep into the opponent’s area, then flings 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 that is played, and will also go to the center of the field to cross.
Throwing the ball to a teammate
To shoot 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 weirdest things about Ronaldo is that he looks just as good using both feet. The center and his shot with the left foot are as accurate as the center with the right foot. Practice with your non-dominant legs doing dribbling exercises with both feet and shooting at the goal with the “wrong” leg as much as possible. Train the basics of your game until both leg strength becomes precise, albeit retrograde. See more about how to kick like Cristiano Ronaldo