Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates unwanted anniversary of hilarious free-kick blunder

A Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick has been doing the rounds after the eight-year anniversary of one of the forward's more hilarious moments passed.

The Al Nassr man has had a bit of a love-hate relationship with dead-ball efforts over his career, with success ranging from 40-yard to screamers to some quite hilarious efforts.

Unfortunately for the forward, Friday marked the anniversary of perhaps his worst effort of all time.

Portugal got their 2014 World Cup campaign off to the worst possible start in Brazil, losing 4-0 to eventual winners Germany - but the game is often remembered for something other than the scoreline.

With Ronaldo's Portugal struggling, the now-38-year-old did his best to take matters into his own hands, hitting a free-kick from around 45 yards in a bit to create a chance through a more unorthodox approach.

He set up to strike the ball, but Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had little faith in his opponents' ability to threaten the goal. He set up a one-man wall, consisting of Philipp Lahm, and dared the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to go for goal.

That he did, but things didn't go to plan. Ronaldo took aim, going for goal with his famous knuckle-ball technique but managed to hammer to ball straight into the legs of Lahm.

The majority of those in attendance in Salvador sighed, but German fans were left smirking while one commentator couldn't hold back his laughter.

Portugal went onto fall at the group stage in the tournament, finishing third in their group behind Germany and the United States. The bounced back quickly, though, winning Euro 2016 two years later.

When Germany put a man in the wall and the commentator busted into laughter after Cristiano Ronaldo still managed to hit the only man in the wall😭 https://t.co/TrMf5LMrDS pic.twitter.com/ZQwHVOIVRH

— Trig (@Kharlerh) June 9, 2023

Germany, meanwhile, beat Lionel Messi's Argentina in the final after Mario Gotze scored in extra-time, with Pepe sent off for Portugal during the group stage game, in which Thomas Muller also netted a hat-trick for the eventual champions.

Ronaldo's Portugal career has certainly had its ups and downs, with his most recent major tournament ending in tears when his side were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Happy anniversary, Cristiano.