Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo says he prefers taking penalties over free kicks because of the adrenaline involved in trying to beat the keeper from 12-yards.
The 31-year-old has scored 33 goals in all competitions this season – seven of which have come from the penalty spot. He has missed just one spot kick all campaign.
On the other hand, Ronaldo, who is still one of the most feared free kick takers in world football, has actually found the net just three times from his last 100 dead ball efforts from outside the area.
Speaking in an interview with Unscriptd, the Portugal captain was asked which he preferred – penalties or free kicks. After a brief pause, Real’s all-time leading goalscorer said: “Penalty. I think penalties. It’s better, the adrenaline is better, so I prefer stuff with adrenaline.”
The interview comes just days after Ronaldo was asked for his thoughts on the Leo Messi and Luis Suarez penalty for Barcelona last weekend. In the match against Celta Vigo, the Catalan outfit were awarded a spot kick. Rather than shoot for goal, Messi passed to in on running Suarez who side footed home past the keeper in what many saw as a homage to Johan Cryuff’s famous effort for Ajax in 1982.
Ronaldo’s response when asked about the penalty was: “Messi’s penalty? I know why he did it but I don’t have more to add.”
