CRISTIANO RONALDO scored his first free-kick since leaving Real Madrid for Juventus – bending a stunning effort into the top corner against local rivals Torino.
It was a truly brilliant effort by the Portuguese as the Old Lady cruised.
Rather than use his trademark through the laces technique, it appeared as if Ron added a bit more swerve to this effort, curling this one past Salvatore Sirigu and into the top corner.
The goal gave Maurizio Sarri’s side some breathing space in the Derby della Mole.
Paulo Dybala had opened the scoring after three minutes, before Juan Cuadrado struck.
However, Andrea Belotti gave Torino some hope after converting a penalty – six minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Ronaldo then stepped up early in the second half to score his wonderful free-kick before a late Koffi Djidji own goal secured a 4-1 win.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has not had much luck from dead balls since his shock exit from Spain to Italy.
In fact, it has taken Ronaldo 43 attempts to score a free-kick for Juventus.
And, as with everything Ronaldo, there is the question of Lionel Messi.
Before his strike today, Ronaldo’s last goal from a free-kick at club level came in the 2017 Club World Cup.
In that time, Argentinian maestro Messi has scored a whopping 16 free-kicks for Barcelona.
Ronaldo has been in stunning form for Juventus since football returned, scoring four goals and adding two assists in four games.
Football legend Gianluigi Buffon also broke Paolo Maldini’s Serie A appearance record after starting for Juve, who are chasing a ninth successive Serie A title.
It was his 648th game in the Italian top flight.
Earlier this week, former Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba revealed how ex-United skipper Roy Keane turn Ronaldo into a superstar.
He said: “I can definitely say that Keane was hard on Ronaldo on the pitch and in training, because he wanted Ronaldo to get better.
“And he knew that he could get so much better, and to get to where he is now.
“Having someone like Keane get angry at Ronaldo has definitely helped him to become the player he has become in the long run.”
