Analyzing Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick struggles & possible solutions

Analyzing Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick struggles & possible solutions | Biomechanics/sports science

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Күн бұрын

Analyzing Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick struggles & possible solutions | Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT breaks down Cristiano Ronaldo’s - current Portugal international and Juventus superstar, former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar - free kick struggles since 2014 with an eye on potential root causes and offers up possible solutions.
Here’s a table of contents, header (sub-headings):
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:58 Potential reasons (Patterns emerge, technique differences?, blame the ball?, injuries, confidence & rhythm
- 5:57 Possible solutions (change the routine, change of routine: case study, knuckleball out & side spin in, free kick hiatus, something’s gotta give)
For those at work or the hard of hearing, I've transcribed subtitles on KZfaq so sound isn't required.
For reference, I’m a DPT (Doctor of Physio) and youth football (soccer) coach well-versed in sports science and biomechanics, and owner of 3CB Performance - online health content, telehealth services and sports rehab & performance clinics in West LA and Valencia, CA.
Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media:
Website: www.3cbperformance.com/
Twitter: / 3cbperformance
Instagram: / 3cbperformance

Пікірлер: 93

@shooshooshooshooshooter 4 жыл бұрын

This channel’s gonna be massive one day. Great analysis and insight.

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

Appreciate the confidence. In the meantime, thanks for the support

@dryames4319 4 жыл бұрын

So true. Subscribed

@augustushananvillaramaramo1213 3 жыл бұрын

He scored a good goal vs spain in Euro. What prevent him from taking free kick with same technique? He quickly turn back to that old technique asap after that

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

Don’t know. Might not be completely comfortable with it

@kidus_1010 4 жыл бұрын

Tbh I think he’s gotten worse at free kicks due to a lack of practice. As he’s gotten older he’s had to focus more on his physical abilities to keep himself in shape as he ages instead of focusing on free kicks which he said he used to work on for an hour a week which still isn’t a lot and believe me it’s really easy to get rusty at free kicks without constant practice.

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

It certainly could be a factor but one that we don't have any ability to track over time so it's hard to comment on it

@Nicko029 4 жыл бұрын

The most recent struggles are definitely because he has a top knot

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

LOL - mystery solved

@Rickyjezz94 4 жыл бұрын

LOL it throws him off balance

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

@@Rickyjezz94 lolol

@nmolina5 2 жыл бұрын

I think he uses a topspin/side spin for closer range free kicks, but after a certain distance he switches to knuckleball, he used to get height and dip on knuckleballs with a ton of power but not so much height anymore, also not many players can score a free kick from his distances.

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

I'd say distance + location

@vineetno10 4 жыл бұрын

Hey, I think your videos have gotten better! Great work on these football related videos!

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, always trying to get better

@Scyther558 2 жыл бұрын

It’s sad how the best free kick taker ever has fallen so much

@fares1723 2 жыл бұрын

Juninho is the best freekick taker ever, and messi is a better freekick taker than ronaldo

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

Cristiano was never the best FK taker mate

@Scyther558 2 жыл бұрын

@@3cbperformance who was in your opinion?

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

@@Scyther558 Juninho

@tusharagarwal6155 2 жыл бұрын

he was one of the best for some time but then became the worst after 2014 injury

@ciosnek5 2 жыл бұрын

I think since around 2015 balls do have different structure. They no longer slick and have these small structures on the surface.. Nike Adidas Puma all of them. I think they can regulate the airflow around the ball. Look that overall there are no longer knuckleball golals.

@kevinr5103 3 жыл бұрын

Uhh he just scored a free kick for Juventus:)

@iganpparamarta8813 3 жыл бұрын

Haha you beat me to it. Was about to make the comment.

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

DADDYKevXI he did and scored it using the side foot technique - as I suggested

@sth_fahmabobo525 3 жыл бұрын

3CB Performance You’re a genius mate

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

STH_ Fahmabobo i wouldn’t say all that mate. Just looking for solutions based on what we’re seeing

@nickarnaudntore5383 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent job, very well explained, thank you Doctor

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching

@ELOELO7 2 жыл бұрын

Tbh cristiano can score many more free kicks if he uses the technique he used against Spain or in general the technique Messi,dybala,pjanic,bruno use (curve) , but for some reasons he always goes for the knuckle ball

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

That's what I said as well in the video mate. Using a side footed technique

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

If you appreciate the channel, please support via subs, likes, comments, and shares on other platforms. All questions and your time spent watching are always appreciated. Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media: Website: www.3cbperformance.com/ Twitter: twitter.com/3cbPerformance Instagram: instagram.com/3cbperformance/

@MrGetItIn 4 жыл бұрын

Really interesting video. Thanks for this content

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

TheOnyxFlye thanks for watching and taking the time to comment

@saran2951 4 жыл бұрын

Can you please make a video of Roberto Carlos outer foot kick

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

I will be mate and it was already on the docket. Thanks for the suggestion

@paragjadhav4735 2 жыл бұрын

Doctor Does Knuckleball free-kick cause Knee Injury or does it Increase Knee Pain?

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

I can't make that general of a statement

@sinufreestyle6377 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing vdo brother 👍. Finally found a proper vdo about that content 😍

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

Sinu Freestyle appreciate it

@cjcerrella1321 2 жыл бұрын

Although you stated it’s unlikely that it’s the differences in the ball affecting him, I highly disagree with you. As a player, I can say that the older balls (made of a softer material) knuckled and dipped much easier than the ones of today. The ones of today are made with a much “tougher” material, making it harder to get the correct movement you desire.

@CatCompanionsTv1 2 жыл бұрын

Exactly..that Jabulani world cup ball moved in the all around before hitting the net.

@IrfanNasir 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks bro

@iganpparamarta8813 3 жыл бұрын

Raj oh Raj look what you’ve done! Ronaldo scored again from freekick.

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

Paramarta Iganp side footed...perhaps we’re onto something

@greghansford6000 4 жыл бұрын

The whip from the follow through has changed due to less leg/knee mobility

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

Is there something specific you're seeing to indicate that?

@lanceandersson5956 3 жыл бұрын

3CB Performance his follow through has completely changed. The reason for it I don’t know. If you actually compare 2014> to you’ll notice that he gets himself in a curled/hunched up position. Knee close to abdominals whilst also leaning forward after striking the ball. After striking the ball he’s pretty much at a standstill not moving more than 1 meter forward. He would often tiptoe in his run up but I have seen him hit knuckleballs without too much tiptoeing (possibly to help get a flatter foot when striking the ball which otherwise could create unwanted spin). I see very little consistency in his follow through in hitting the ball like a baseball bat. Nowadays it feels like he’s winging it, possibly even forgotten his old technique at this point. Could be injuries, could be age, I think it’s both because there was a day and night change after the 2014 world cup where he played with the knee injury. He was never the same after that world cup. I don’t care what statistic anyone brings up, his free kicks, his dribbling ability, his overall shooting ability (especially from distance), his agility and acceleration took a massive hit. Depending on what statistics you look at one might claim that there was a steady decline but the eye test said otherwise.

@chideraoliobi2623 4 жыл бұрын

Do you think his intentional loss of muscle mass to reduce injuries as he ages has impacted his ability to generate lift on the ball ?

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

If that was the case, you'd see a loss of lift, velocity, and other physical characteristics in other aspects of his game as well.

@GOWYL 2 жыл бұрын

@@3cbperformance may be that is the case because he is not the same player as before. He is not as involved in all aspects of game as he was before.

@EC-pe7wk Жыл бұрын

@@GOWYL and yet ppl still compare him to Messi. How? Why? Idk.

@akg1301 4 жыл бұрын

Hey i have a question regarding this topic like many people in yt comments section his freekick struggle is due to his knee injuries which caught him while at real madrid.so my qn is how knee injury affects freekicks

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

I addressed the injuries in the video

@rujotheone 3 жыл бұрын

I saw a thread that talked about this knee injury. Which I believe it is more likely the case

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

Rujo Onye That thread - which I commented on - was filled with misinformation.

@rujotheone 3 жыл бұрын

@@3cbperformance i see

@marchassan6441 3 жыл бұрын

Damn, you are right!

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

Perhaps

@j7sportvideo24 Жыл бұрын

He only scored one fk goal for juve in 3 seasons and it was vs Torino in 2019-20 season. It was a curve shot. In his return to man Utd in 2021-22 season he struggled to score knuckleballs too. Until he scored a curve shot fk again vs Norwich. It’s a shame he can’t knuckle anymore😢 Something has changed now I see him try the curve technique but it’s different to other players. His most recent fk for his national team was a literal power shot in the top corner with little to know spin. It was from the edge of the box. He scored a fk for Ai Nassr from 35 yards out. It was struck hard but went through the wall. I don’t think he’ll stop taking fks anytime soon. So we might still see some worldies 😅

@baiyangmontano3937 2 жыл бұрын

I think it’s cuz he’s thigh muscle got bigger and it does slightly gets in the way, but a slight change is huge when it comes to knuckleballs

@um7605 4 жыл бұрын

Love from 🇮🇳✌

@3cbperformance 4 жыл бұрын

U M ✊

@dullas2333 2 жыл бұрын

i think his game was affected as well, u can see that Ronaldo doesn't dribble as much

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

Based on what?

@dullas2333 2 жыл бұрын

@@3cbperformance the way he's been playing in the last few seasons

@rfhsgaming1938 3 жыл бұрын

I think as he grows older, dead ball situations are way more easier to score rather than open play because strength doesn't always matter in dead ball situations. You could modify techniques to suit less power required. He really needs to change it, if he wants to keep scoring more goals. Besides, I think 2014 knee injury is the big part, and why this isn't seen in open play as much is because on open play, he has a running ball rhythm with him, so that helps generate a bit more power than a dead ball, I guess ? Correct me if I am wrong.

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

The problem with the knee theory is that his free kick issues started before that injury and further, we don't see any deficits from the knee issue on much higher load movements like his jumping

@rfhsgaming1938 3 жыл бұрын

@@3cbperformance Oh, I thought they started after he played in world cup 2014 even though he had the injury. Thanks for correcting me.

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

@@rfhsgaming1938 The inflection point was in 2012. No problem, appreciate the candor

@tjseries3057 3 жыл бұрын

@@3cbperformance I think using the classic curve technique and going for placement instead of power will work

@3cbperformance 3 жыл бұрын

@@tjseries3057 Yes, that's what I said in the video as well. Instep technique

@ShayanMohammadian 2 жыл бұрын

Make a vidio from fitness in football

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

I have many mate

@ayushman1940 2 жыл бұрын

Dude your vdos are really really good. But I want that Ronaldo that he was before 😭😭 please mate do something. Please you talk to Ronaldo and tell him to use that curve technique and not the knuckle ball 😭😭 pleaseee pleassee 🥺🥺

@3cbperformance 2 жыл бұрын

Lol k