by sportswriters Cao Jianjie and Wang Haoming
MEXICO CITY, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cristiano Ronaldo stood over the ball in his trademark wide-legged stance as Portugal prepared to take a free kick against Uzbekistan in Houston.
The scene looked familiar. For nearly two decades, defenders and goalkeepers have braced themselves when Ronaldo takes up the pose, anticipating one of the powerful free kicks that helped define his career.
This time, however, the shot never came.
As Ronaldo moved toward the ball, Nuno Mendes cut in from the opposite side and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner. Uzbekistan's defensive wall, set up for a strike from Ronaldo, could do little to stop it.
Ronaldo immediately embraced Mendes after the goal and appeared to whisper into his teammate's ear, suggesting the move was anything but spontaneous.
The routine offered another reminder that, even at 41, Ronaldo remains influential from set pieces.
In his prime, the Portugal captain built a reputation as one of football's most feared free-kick takers. His powerful, dipping strikes for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Portugal often left goalkeepers rooted to the spot and defenders unsure where the ball would finish.
That reputation still carries weight, only now there is greater unpredictability.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has used similar routines for Al Nassr in recent seasons. But the idea is not new. He provided an early glimpse of it while playing for Manchester United in 2008, acting as a decoy before Owen Hargreaves curled in a 20-yard free kick against Arsenal.
Rather than relying solely on his own shot, Ronaldo can now use the attention he commands to create openings for teammates. Defensive walls and goalkeepers know what he is capable of, but they cannot always know what is coming next.
The goal against Uzbekistan was a case in point. With attention fixed on Ronaldo, Mendes was left with a clear sight of goal.
Some fans on Chinese social media jokingly described the move as another example of Ronaldo "cheating". In reality, it was a simple set-piece routine that capitalized on the uncertainty created by one of the game's most recognizable free-kick takers.
Whether shooting at goal himself or stepping aside for a teammate, Ronaldo remains capable of unsettling defenses. Against Uzbekistan, Portugal took full advantage. ■
