Why ‘one in 60’ Cristiano Ronaldo record makes him a ‘weakness’ as Gary Lineker explains how Portugal superstar’s ego at Euro 2024 impacts Man Utd playmaker Bruno Fernandes

Cristiano Ronaldo’s “one in 60” free-kick record makes him a “weakness” for Portugal and is impacting Bruno Fernandes, says Gary Lineker.

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• All-time great dominates at set-pieces
• Team-mates having to take a back seat
• Others better placed to find the target

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored some spectacular goals when stood over set-pieces down the years, with his knuckleball approach from long distance becoming legendary. Consistency has, however, been lacking for club and country.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo’s strike rate is phenomenal, but he can never be relied upon to hit the target – nevermind the the back of the net – when taking on free-kicks. Despite that, the 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward has continued to step up for Portugal at Euro 2024.

• WHAT LINEKER SAID

  Questions have been asked of whether the all-time great is allowing ego to take over, with former Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes considered to be a more reliable option over a dead-ball. Ex-England international Lineker has told podcast of Ronaldo dominating free-kick duty: “It is almost impossible, despite the fact his record is something like one in 60 that he’s scored in tournaments. Bruno Fernandes is a better free-kick taker and a more varied free-kick taker than Ronaldo. So while he’s [Ronaldo] a massive strength, he can also be a weakness as well.

  “Nothing against Cristiano because what an unbelievable player. I was watching him and his movement in the box is absolutely perfect. He does it better than anybody else I’ve ever seen as a nine, the way he goes forward one way, then the other way. He does it with a sharpness. It’s more the ego side of him which is more of a weakness, probably for himself, Portugal and [head coach] Roberto [Martinez]. As a manager, you know you’ve got someone whose powers are waning and he’s 39, but he’s still Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s a superstar. He is almost the most famous person on the planet, not just as a footballer.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

  Ronaldo is yet to register a goal at Euro 2024, having missed an extra-time penalty in a last-16 showdown with Slovenia that left him in tears. He did, however, score in the final shootout of that contest – which means he will get another opportunity to break his duck when facing France in the quarter-finals on Friday.