Luke Shaw surprisingly snubbed Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo as the best penalty kick taker he played alongside for another “unbelievable” former club teammate.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2021 after a blockbuster move from Serie A side Juventus for an initial fee of £12.86m.
The 39-year-old Portuguese forward impressed in his first season back at the Red Devils, with Ronaldo scoring 18 times in 30 Premier League appearances.
Despite his impressive 2021-22 season at Old Trafford, Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United came to an end during the 2022-23 Premier League season.
The United legend fell down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag, who had replaced Ronaldo’s former teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the Old Trafford dugout.
Ronaldo pulled no punches towards Erik ten Hag – among many other issues – during his bombshell interview with outspoken presenter Piers Morgan in 2022.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract with United was later terminated by mutual agreement and Ronaldo and completed a move to Al Nassr in 2023.
Shaw snubs Ronaldo for penalty
Luke Shaw has spoken highly of former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the past and about the opportunity to play alongside him.
Ronaldo has performed superbly well from the penalty spot and the Al Nassr superstar is his country and club’s designated spot-kick taker.
Speaking to Goal, Shaw was asked which player was the best penalty kick taker he played alongside in his club and international career.
The 28-year-old England left-back snubbed United legends Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney by picking former Southampton teammate Rickie Lambert.
“My God, wow,” he said. “There’s so many I can go for, but I’m gonna go for one people probably wouldn’t think I would pick and that is Rickie Lambert.
“Yeah, because obviously the normal ones I could go for, but I think Rickie Lambert was unbelievable at penalties, so I would pick him.”
Shaw’s former teammate Lambert on penalties
Transfermarkt has revealed that Rickie Lambert scored 51 penalties in his entire playing career and only missed three times from the spot-kick.
The 42-year-old former Liverpool and Southampton striker never missed a penalty during his prolific run at the St Mary’s, according to Transfermarkt.
Lambert, who drew comparisons with Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier for his penalty record, revealed the secret behind his technique from the spot-kick.
“My technique was simple. I would pick a corner, hit the ball as hard as I could and try to get it as close to the post as possible,” he told The Set Pieces.
“The main thing was power with me. Sometimes the keeper’s got a hand to it, but the power’s beaten them.
“If I was going to my right, I’d sidefoot it with power. I was looking to bend it just a foot inside the post. If I was going left, it was laces with even more power.”