The types of goals of Cristiano Ronaldo that Messi has never scored

1. Bicycle Kick

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg football match between Juventus and Real Madrid at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

2. Backheeled goal

Manchester United vs. Aston Villa, 2008

The ball breaks to Ronaldo in the box after a corner, and he nonchalantly backheels it goalwards, ʙᴇᴀᴛing everyone.

What makes it unique: Notice, it nutmegs a Villa defender on its route to goal.

What counts against it: It’s not exactly in the corner of the net (if we’re splitting hairs).

Malaga vs. Real Madrid, 2011

High in the air and at an awkward angle, Ronaldo finds a way to turn the cross goalwards where others might have let the ball slip past them.

What makes it unique: Aerial.

What counts against it: That dance afterwards. Yikes.

Guangzhou Evergrande vs. Real Madrid, 2011

Played through during a preseason friendly match against Guangzhou Evergrande, Ronaldo ran out of room but still managed to flick the ball past the goalkeeper.

What makes it unique: The angle, with an onrushing keeper, is tight even for a conventional finish.

What counts against it: It was a preseason friendly.

Real Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano, 2012

If one goal is going to settle a match (Real won 1-0), it might as well be a backheeled goal as you’re running away from goal.

What makes it unique: Power. It was well-struck given how far away from goal Ronaldo was and how it had to find the corner.

What counts against it: Could any of the Vallecano players have blocked it?

Real Madrid vs. Getafe, 2013

It’s the awareness of where the goal is that makes this finish from Ronaldo so memorable—the striker adjusts to a deflected cross with nonchalance.

What makes it unique: Anticipation, placement—and the spin is pretty good, too.

What counts against it: It came in a routine 4-1 win, as if that makes it any less brilliant…

3. 40yards long shot – Cristiano Ronaldo’s 40-yard thunderbolt against Porto

In a moment reminiscent of that one person at five-a-side who will sʜᴏᴏᴛ from his own half, 40 yards out, Ronaldo put his head down and his iconic right red Nike Mercurial through the adidas Star Ball to send it soaring through the night sky.

4. 40yards freekick – Ronaldo’s 40-yd freekick vs Arsenal

Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo on May 5, 2009 scored a long-range freekick from 40-yards out against Premier League rivals Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal second leg at the Emirates Stadium. Taking a freekick following an Arsenal foul, Ronaldo ʙᴇᴀᴛ former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia with his knuckleball freekick, helping United seal the tie 3-0 on aggregate.