Cristiano Ronaldo had ‘no right’ to score one of his greatest free-kicks ever dubbed an absolute ‘missile’

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Former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has one of the most insane goal catalogues of any footballer to grace the game.

And it’s really no surprise, considering the amount the Manchester United legend has scored. Ronaldo has over 900 goals – and wants more.

Some of these came in a Red Devils shirt. Cristiano Ronaldo’s 145 goals at Old Trafford definitely included some memorable ones, with the Porto screamer, the Portsmouth free-kick and the Champions League final header to name but a few.

But there is another that lingers in the minds of Manchester United fans for good reason – the fact that it was simply ludicrous to shoot from that range from a dead ball.

• READ MORE: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo? Meet one of football’s most iconic names and undisputed Man Utd legend

Cristiano Ronaldo’s insane free-kick vs Arsenal in Champions League

Let’s set the scene, Manchester United face Arsenal in a Champions League second-leg semi-final showdown in 2009.

United were leading 1-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg at Old Trafford and were already 1-0 up in the second leg thanks to a Ji-Sung Park strike when Ronaldo stepped up for a free kick in the 12th minute.

At the Emirates Stadium, fans watched on as the Portuguese winger approached the ball about 45 yards away from the goal on an acute right angle. He couldn’t shoot, could he?

Ronaldo approaches the ball with his usual vigour, before unleashing his trademark knuckleball technique which sends the ball hurtling towards Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal.

The ball swerves in the air at a ludicrous speed, and ultimately combined with the element of surprise, left Almunia with little time to react – despite the distance.

The ball flew past the Arsenal shot-stopper into the bottom corner of the goal, giving Manchester United a 3-0 lead on the night and 4-0 on aggregate.

United went on to reach the Champions League final but unfortunately ran out 2-0 losers to a Barcelona side who tore Sir Alex Ferguson’s apart in Rome.

Nevertheless, the Ronaldo free-kick that helped contribute to getting them there has gone down in history as one of the greatest set pieces ever scored.

What was the reaction to Ronaldo vs Arsenal free-kick at the time?

Given the insane strike, the reaction had to match. Publishers went wild for Ronaldo’s strike against Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.

ESPN wrote: “Ronaldo has just hammered in a free kick from 45 yards out, wide on the right and Almunia has to take the blame for that. What a strike, but where was the keeper?

“Admittedly it was a soft award as Van Persie nipped at Ronaldo, but the Portuguese had no right to score from that distance.”

The Telegraph wrote: “Ronaldo was still so far out, touching 41 yards, that even the watching David Beckham might not have tried his luck with the free-kick.

“Calmly, Ronaldo placed the ball down and surveyed Arsenal’s modest wall. Nasri and Fabregas are hardly the Great Wall of China. Nasri even ducked as Ronaldo’s missile came flying in, catching out Almunia. England’s No 1? More like Spain’s No 5.”

Stretty Rant wrote: “Ronaldo was fouled by van Persie over 40 yards out. No danger, normally, but the World Player of the Year followed up his quarter-final stunner with a fabulous set piece to silence the home crowd and many pundits.”

A strike of immense quality – and the illustrious European competition may see little more impressive.