In a book written by University of Bath physics professor
Ken Bray, Cristiano Ronaldo has been praised for the challenges his
free kicks pose to goalkeepers because of the physical properties
of the ball's flight.
In How to Score: Science and the Beautiful Game, Bray
discusses the scientific connections between football and nature's
natural laws, analysing the ball's trajectory when struck
by some of the best free-kick takers in the world, including
Didier Drogba, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Of 'CR9', the professor is quoted by AS as saying:
"Cristiano takes free kicks in a special manner; the ball barely
rotates after being struck. When Cristiano shoots, the ball acts
similarly to a baseball and because of this, its trajectory is
difficult to discern.
"To our eyes, some goalkeepers may appear stupified, but in
truth they are not at fault. If they are headed towards goal, the
Portuguese's shots are very difficult to save. No one shoots like
this, except perhaps Sunderland's Kieran Richardson. And the goals
have nothing to do with luck", says Bray, an admitted fan of
Fernando Torres.
What is even more worrisome for 'keepers is that Bray predicts CR9
will only improve his technique over time, making his free kicks
that bit more lethal. Bray's mention of Ronaldo is the latest in a
series of studies highlighting the winger's play. Two weeks ago,
German magazine Der Spiegel released a study listing
Ronaldo as the fastest elite player in the world.