Tito football Is Ronaldo actually good at free kicks? (audio)

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First, a distinction: we’re not talking about the quality of free-kicks that Ronaldo scored,  

because clearly some of his set-piece goals are among the finest in modern footballing history.

No, we’re dealing with volume: how efficient was Ronaldo’s free-kick taking?

The Athletic’s Mark Carey and Tim Spiers have dug into the data to find out. During his first spell at Manchester United, Ronaldo scored from ​ (a)   free-kicks, among those were the famous Portsmouth goal,  and swirling long-range attempts against Sporting Club and Arsenal in the Champions League.

However, the peak of his powers with the dead ball really occurred at Real Madrid. He would score ​ (b)   goals in nine seasons. His most prolific was actually his first,  in 2009-10, when he scored six times,  including one against Villarreal at the Bernabeu which was clocked at a speed of ​ (c)   km/h.

And yet, as this chart shows, his most efficient season – i.e. when his free-kick conversion rate  was at its highest – was in ​ (d)   , when he scored five goals at a conversion rate of 10%.  The drop off since has been startling. Famously, it took him ​ (e)   attempts to score his first direct  free-kick for Juventus, a run which extended over more than a season.

• 13
• 30
• 32
• 52
• 101.5
• 111.5
• 2013-14
• 2014-15
• 43
• 53

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a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short period

• Spell

• Set piece

• Dead ball

• Settle

Answer explanation

During his first spell at Manchester United, Ronaldo scored from 13 free-kicks

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a move such as a free kick or a corner in a game of football, hockey etc

• a set piece

• a stopped action

• a check piace

• a stopped ball

A synonym of "free kick"

• dead ball

• stopped ball

• fixed ball

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His free - kick efficiency when he returned to the Manchester United

• went up

• went down

• remained the same

According to statistics, in the period from 2016 to 2022, Ronaldo's free kicks quality was similar to

• an above average free kick taker

• an averge free - kick taker

• a below average free kick taker

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Messi's free-kick scoring rate was over 10% in

• 2 seasons

• 3 seasons

• 4 seasons

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Playing by Portugal, Ronaldo scored (a)   free-kick goal(s)

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Ronaldo prefers to shoot

• from the right

• from the left

• from a long distance