No matter your opinion on the man, there’s no escaping that Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the sport. From his days at Old Trafford through to his current home at Real Madrid, Ronaldo has stunned fans around the goal with his enigmatic and versatile playing style.
Though his game is far more well-rounded than a simple goal-scorer, arguably the greatest skill he possesses is the ability to hit the back of the net from out of nowhere. With that being said, he’s made some remarkable strikes throughout his career, and as the next season kicks into gear (and with the Madrid team looking better than ever) it’s time we remembered some of the very best goals scored by the forward.
Here are Cristiano Ronaldo’s best goals in GIFs.
Free Kick (Real Madrid vs Villarreal)
Goalkeepers must be terrified when Ronaldo steps up to the plate to take a free kick, and rightly so. He’s proven time and time again that he can leave them looking positively helpless, as they’re forced to watch the ball sail past them and into the back of the net. His goal against Villarreal back in 2010 is evidence of this.
Back Heel (Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano)
A great goal-scorer always knows how to find the back of the net, and this nonchalant back heeled effort against Rayo Vallecano in 2012 displayed why Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest forwards in the history of the sport.
40-Yard Strike (Manchester United vs. FC Porto)
This is one of the moments that made Ronaldo a legend at Old Trafford. At the time the forward described this 40-yard stunner against FC Porto as his “best ever goal”, and while it’s a great deal of competition these days, there’s no denying how impressive this one-of-a-kind shot was and still is.
Speaking of the strike back in 2009, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said he would “have to go a long way back in the memory bank to find another one like that.” That’s high praise from a manager who has seen it all in the sport.
Mule Kick (Real Madrid vs Valencia)
Ronaldo’s creativity on the pitch is unparalleled, with you needing to look no further than his “mule kick” against Valencia in May to see how the Portuguese star can score from anywhere, at any time.
What’s almost as impressive as the goal is how he doesn’t even feel the need to celebrate after scoring it. The guy’s so used to making magic with those feet of his that even an overwhelmingly impressive goal such as this completely washes over him.
Back Heel AGAIN! (Manchester United vs. Aston Villa)
A lesser player would awkwardly try to fumble the ball into the back of the net, but Ronaldo is known for turning dirt into diamonds and this back heeled goal against Aston Villa displays the ease in which he can make something impressive out of nothing.
Overhead Kick (Portugal vs. Azerbaijan)
It’s a travesty that Ronaldo’s perfect overhead kick against Azerbaijan was disallowed, after the officials ruled that the ball didn’t cross the line (even though it clearly did). What could have been one of the forward’s most impressive goals ever will instead go down in history as being disallowed, but WE know the truth and it still deserves a place on this list.
The “Goal of Superlatives” (Manchester United vs. Portsmouth)
In what is remembered as one of the greatest goals ever scored at Old Trafford, Cristiano Ronaldo solidified his position as one of the best free kick takers in the world with this stunning goal against Portsmouth back in 2008. It really has to be seen to be believed.
Photo: Getty Images
