Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
All Scores
Odds by

Top 30 Premier League moments: No. 20 - Ronaldo’s iconic free kick

Plktf0ZKAEnf
Cristiano Ronaldo comes in at No. 20 with perhaps the best goal he's ever scored for Manchester United, as he knuckled an astounding free kick past a rooted David James in the Red Devils' 2-0 win over Portsmouth in 2008.

To celebrate the 30th season of the Premier League, we are counting down and ranking our top 30 moments in Premier League history and Cristiano Ronaldo takes center stage this time around.

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

That’s right, yours truly, Joe Prince-Wright, has selected the top 30 moments in PL history.

This is not only a huge honor, but also a huge headache. How on earth do you condense 30 seasons of magic into 30 individual moments!?

Well, we did it.


How will our Premier League top 30 moments work?

Before each matchweek from now until the end of the 2021-22 season we will unveil the latest moment, as we count down the top moments in PL history from 30 to 1.

From incredible goals to late title drama and emotional sendoffs to legendary players dazzling awe-inspired crowds, we’re going to celebrate and rank the best moments this wonderful league has produced.

Click on the video above to see number 20, as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning free kick when he was at the height of his powers in his first spell at Manchester United.


Premier League Top 30 moments: Number 20 - Cristiano Ronaldo scores stunning free kick goal in 2008 to underline greatness

This is right up there with the best goal that Cristiano Ronaldo has ever scored for Manchester United.

In 2008 Ronaldo was at the peak of his powers, as he scored 31 goals in 31 starts in the Premier League and 42 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2007-08 campaign.

Later on in the 2007-08 season he would lead Manchester United to UEFA Champions League glory before he left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.

In January 2008 he unleashed a howitzer into the top corner from distance against Portsmouth, as this free kick became one of the most iconic in Premier League history.

Ronaldo perfected his ‘knuckleball’ technique and somehow smashed the ball towards goal as the camera angle shows how it wobbled all over the place, keeping Portsmouth goalkeeper David James rooted to the spot as it flew over the wall and into the top corner.

The celebration from Ronaldo was almost as epic, as he let out a Hulk-like scream and looked to the heavens as Old Trafford went wild around him.

Do yourself a favor and hit play on the video above.


Top 30 list

30: Dennis Bergkamp’s brilliant hat trick
29: Newcastle’s amazing comeback from 4-0 down
28: Heung-min Son’s stunning solo goal
27: Thierry Henry’s incredible volley v. Man United
26: Late drama in epic Manchester derby
25: Olivier Giroud scores sensational scorpion kick goal
24: Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira clash in tunnel
23: West Brom’s epic ‘Great Escape’ from relegation
22: Paolo Di Canio’s stunning scissor volley
21: Blackburn Rovers win title on final day
20: Cristiano Ronaldo scores stunning free kick


Follow @JPW_NBCSports