Top 10 Ronaldo moments

13 April 2012

As Cristiano Ronaldo is crowned FIFA world footballer of the year, we look at the top 10 Ronaldo moments that set last season alight

10 Footwork, Ronaldo v Arsenal

While Ronaldo has certainly toned down his step-overs since he first arrived in England, it doesn't mean he's forgotten how to do it. This example against Arsenal is a taster of what he can do when he wants to. Two of the fastest feet in football, his dazzling skills and step-overs have terrorised defenders the world over.

9 Free-kick, Ronaldo v Newcastle

Just to prove that doesn't just hit it and hope, against Newcastle Ronaldo showed how well he reads the game, putting his free-kick under the wall.

8 Left foot, Ronaldo v Everton

Dancing inside from the right flank, Ronaldo turned lee Carsley inside and out, before unleashing a shot with his left foot. The ball swerved in the air before dipping under the cross bar leaving Tim Howard no chance.

7 Volley, Ronaldo v Fulham

In the Premier League it only takes a second to score. Here it takes Ronaldo even less. Notice how he is already in the air when the ball is on its way, thundering a scissor kick which almost broke the net.

6 Right foot, Ronaldo v Dynamo Kiev

Showing all his customary pace and skill, Ronaldo flew down the left wing and latched on to a Patrice Evra pass. He looked to take the defender down the line but with his first touch performed one of his trademark moves, stepping over the ball with his right foot and then flicking it inside the defender with his left. A touch to steady himself and then he blasted it into the corner to complete United's 4-0 route of Kiev.

5 Header, Ronaldo v Roma

How many wingers can do this? When Paul Scholes picked up the ball in the Roma penalty area Ronaldo was still well outside the box. Scholes took two seconds before dinking it into the middle. The ball hung in the air as Ronaldo, running flat out, appeared in the box like a steam train. He leaped, met the ball, and fired a bullet header into the bottom corner.

4 Free-kick, Ronaldo v Sporting Lisbon

When Ronaldo left Sporting Lisbon to join Manchester United he was but a boy. As he stepped up to take a free-kick against his former club last year he was not only a man, but already a United legend. In front of the Stretford End, he scored one of his trademark free-kicks. Generating mystifying pace, he not only hits the ball so hard that it swerves in the air, but his secret is getting it up and down over the wall in less than 30 yards.

3 Back-heel, Ronaldo v Aston Villa

One of the most audacious goals of the season. From an inswinging Ryan Giggs corner, the ball fell to Ronaldo who back-heeled it through Martin Laursen's legs, beating Scott Carson.

2 Header, Ronaldo v Chelsea

Ronaldo opened the scoring in the Champions League final last season when Manchester United beat Chelsea. The Portuguese winger converted Wes Brown's pin-point cross in the first half, with a perfect header into the bottom corner. Not only is this a great finish but he did it on the ultimate stage. Who says he's not a big game player?

1 Free-kick, Ronaldo v Portsmouth

Regarded as one of the greatest dead ball strikes of all time, Ronaldo set the season on fire when he hammered the ball straight into the top corner against Portsmouth. This goal prompted men, women and children all over the country to start wearing boots a size too small, which he does to generate more power, and striking the valve of the ball, which he does to create extra swerve, making his free-kicks virtually unstoppable.

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Top 10 Ronaldo moments

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