Squawka Talker

Welcome back, Squawka Talker listeners. In this special episode, Jake Entwistle is joined by Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT of 3CB Performance to breakdown the free-kick technique of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from a biomechanics perspective. How do their techniques differ? Why is Cristiano Ronaldo struggling to score? From the run-up to ball-striking and what happens next, every step and every muscle is discussed. If you enjoyed the audio description, then be sure to subscribe to Raj's YouTube channel (3CB Performance) for some visual explanations. TIMESTAMPS FOR START OF KEY TOPICS 00:04:20 | Is there a reason for Cristiano Ronaldo's dramatic run-up? "Ronaldo’s routine allows muscle memory to take over and his technique relies on the ‘recoil effect’ to generate shot power" 00:13:55 | Why Lionel Messi 'sprains' his ankle when taking free-kicks “That's what makes Messi incredible...he's an artist” 00:20:30 | Why makes Messi the current free-kick king? 00:27:23 | How to do a knuckleball free-kick and