Such a pretty face, such a shame to be hit by a ball

You've got to give to him, Cristiano Ronaldo is among the Top 3 players in the world. The 36-year-old Portuguese can pass, dribble, score from the box, nail a long-range screamer, enter the scoresheet with a header, left foot or right foot - all the same for him. But just like the name of that witty motion picture starring Woodie Harrelson and Wesley Snipes - he can't jump. At least, not when he is in a free-kick wall.

Ronaldo proved that once again on Wednesday night in a 3-1 home victory against Parma in Italian Serie A. Thankfully, his reluctance to jump didn't cost Juventus points. Still, it provided visitors with an opener that could easily be avoided if he just raised his body a few inches above, just like the rest of his teammates in the wall. But he didn't, and Parma were in the lead.

However, this wasn't Ronaldo's first time do that. His attitude has cost Juve elimination from the Champions League. Porto scored the decisive goal in the second-leg extra time thanks to the free-kick, during which Ronaldo didn't jump and turned his backs to the ball. It allowed visitors to celebrate a shocking victory that sent them straight to the UCL 1/4 finals against Chelsea.

Aware of the raising concerns, Juventus tactician Andrea Pirlo said yesterday that the Portuguese might not be involved in the free-kick defending anymore.

“Unfortunately, these things happen, but we’ll evaluate it over the next few days.”

Juventus wins, Inter stumble in Spezia

After that Porto's failure, several former players talked heavily about Ronaldo's lack of comitment to defending in those circumstances. Former Juve striker Nicola Amoruso didn't hold back at all:

"I would never put him in the barrier on free kicks. He is afraid of receiving a ball in the face because he cares about his image," concluded Amoruso.