Ronaldo lashed home his second from a free-kick in distinctive style
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Cristiano Ronaldo described his sublime free-kick in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Wednesday as the finest goal of his career.
Ronaldo, 22, struck a spectacular 25-yard free-kick which dipped viciously at the last moment and gave Pompey keeper David James no chance.
"That was probably my best-ever goal," said the Portuguese winger.
"I work for this in training and I'm very pleased to score. I shoot the way I do because it is my strength."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt Ronaldo's goal - his second of the game - was the best deadball strike he has seen in the Premier League.
"This free-kick was as good as any I've seen in the Premiership, though. It was two or three inches underneath the bar and no goalkeeper could have saved that.
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606: DEBATE
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"From that distance, he is always going to hit them.
"It was a marvellous hit and no keeper in the world was going to save it because it was right in the junction of the post and the crossbar.
"Is Ronaldo the best free-kick taker we've had? Well, we've had Ryan Giggs and David Beckham and Eric Cantona took them as well.
"David's strike-rate was pretty good and he could certainly take free-kicks, but Cristiano's strike-rate is phenomenal and is as good as any.
"He practises all the time and there are four or five of them that do it after training. It's great to see because I can just go back to the office for a cup of tea and watch them whacking them in!"
Ronaldo's double against Portsmouth took his tally for the season to 27 goals in all competitions, just five short of George Best's club record for a winger of 32 goals in a season.
Don't forget you can rate the players from Wednesday's match at Old Trafford using our Player Rater.
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