How good is Cristiano Ronaldo?

[cmonurz]

Three words:

Dives too much

Thank heavens you're here to add a bit of levelled opinion to the debate

Have to respect his opinion given he is the same nobber who thinks Henry was over-rated.

[Tredder]

I mean, what did he ever achieve and where is he now?

[TBM]

He could well have been an Arsenal player

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 222616.stm

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has told BBC Sport Cristiano Ronaldo had spent time with the Gunners before he joined Manchester United in August 2003.

[igoe agogo]

think he's awesome but apparently he's only scored 3 goals against Arsenal, Liverpool & Chelsea combined since he's been in the prem - or something like that anyway

[PlasticRoyale]

Gattuso should have been booked in the semi at the San Siro. Constantly fouled ronaldo but got away with it. Actually rugby tackled him at one point

[philM]

Can someone explain to me how players get the ball to move in the air so much without applying spin. e.g Ronaldo's free-kick v portsmouth. Looking at it the ball doesn't seem to be spinning much but the ball certainly dips compared to it's expected flight/speed.

Having never played at a level where bending the ball became relevant or even optional without adding some slice/fade spin I don't understand how it works.

[Royal With Cheese]

The frightening thing is he's going to get better over the next few years.

[moo]

The frightening thing is he's going to get better over the next few years.

Like Owen did.

[shadesrwrf]

I don't think he's as good as Theo Walcott.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Well he caertainly did it against England at the world cup and we're the best team in the world.

AN absolute joy to watch, as is the entire Utd team.

I remember a month into the season Alan Green called Anderson the new Kleberson.....

[From Despair To Where?]

Considering all the media hype about his free kick against Pompey, was I the only person to be somewhat underwhelmed by it when they finally saw it? Seemed to me it was taken with a plastic ball bought for 99p from Tesco. I used to score goals like that in the playground at primay school.

[Big Ern]

On current form, he is the best player in the World at the moment IMO.

He will never be considered amongst the elite until he has lit up a major tournemant thae same way that Maradonna, Pele and Zidane did, but he is still young and has 5 or 6 major tourmenents ahead of him to do so.

The other players who could be currently consiodered the best in the World, Kaka & Ronaldhino were not that impressive in the last world cup, and out of all 3 I would say Ronaldo out performed them. Although i think Ronaldhino was still reeling after seeing his dream move to ReadingFC falling through due to problems with wages.

[TBM]

Can someone explain to me how players get the ball to move in the air so much without applying spin. e.g Ronaldo's free-kick v portsmouth. Looking at it the ball doesn't seem to be spinning much but the ball certainly dips compared to it's expected flight/speed.

Having never played at a level where bending the ball became relevant or even optional without adding some slice/fade spin I don't understand how it works.

If you ever get a chance to, pick up one of the balls they use - for starters its got a soft jelly like coat to it and is really light. Compare it to the ones you buy in a sports shop, which are heavier and harder without that soft coating. Add in the new thinner boots players wear it means when they strike the ball they can influence it alot more than if you're wearing £30 boots that we buy. The Ronaldo free-kick, he hit it in such a way that he added more of a top spin making the ball dip at pace, his run up is front on - compare it to Beckham who come almost side on to the ball hence why he gets so much curl.

[shadesrwrf]

The Ronaldo free-kick, he hit it in such a way that he added more of a top spin making the ball dip at pace, his run up is front on - compare it to Beckham who come almost side on to the ball hence why he gets so much curl.

Behave yourself. It was a mis-kick.

[TBM]

The Ronaldo free-kick, he hit it in such a way that he added more of a top spin making the ball dip at pace, his run up is front on - compare it to Beckham who come almost side on to the ball hence why he gets so much curl.

Behave yourself. It was a mis-kick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_tLV6bfg9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejfGKxlqOwQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2vTJRf2xVk

I agree - all mis-kicks!

[Royal Fleet]

To be a true great and be mentioned in the same breath as Pele, Platini and Zidane he needs to learn some humility and honour. I think his game still has a cheating edge, and he fancies himself a bit too much. I will always consider Maradona a level below those I have mentioned for exactly these reasons.

[shadesrwrf]

The Ronaldo free-kick, he hit it in such a way that he added more of a top spin making the ball dip at pace, his run up is front on - compare it to Beckham who come almost side on to the ball hence why he gets so much curl.

Behave yourself. It was a mis-kick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_tLV6bfg9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejfGKxlqOwQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2vTJRf2xVk

I agree - all mis-kicks!

My apologies, that's what comes of no tongue-in-cheek emoticon.

[TBM]

My apologies, that's what comes of no tongue-in-cheek emoticon.

so was my post....

Now if you were SpaceCruiser i wouldn't have believed you

[Silver Fox]

Late to the party and all that but I only saw Ronnie's free kick on Saturday and given that it was a dead ball situation I don't think it was all that. The praise heaped on it just reminds me of Carlos in le Tournoi, how did his free kicks work out for him after that?

Having said that, he is the best player in the world by a mile.

[The Wang Meister]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... 764112.ece