Best Free Kick Takers of All Time
- Footdudes
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
A free kick is a soccer term that comes into play as a punishment for a foul committed outside the box against a player of the opposing team. When the foul is committed against a player inside the box, the team of the victim is awarded a penalty.
Though scoring from a free kick is not easy, it requires high-level skills.
History
Free kicks were introduced in the game during its development phase, as free kicks were being taken informally and were mentally a part of the game before football was even structured. As the sport developed, and to keep the essence of the informal kicks, meaning was given to them by introducing fouls, and the non-guilty party was awarded a free kick or penalty.
Direct and Indirect Free Kicks
A direct free kick in football is when a player scores directly from the free kick. To score a direct free kick, many factors are involved such as distance, angle, wind, wall, curl, goalkeeper, etc.
An indirect free kick is executed when the free kick position is either too far away to attempt a direct free kick or the angle from the position is tricky. In these cases, a player with high passing prowess plays the ball inside the box to be headed into the goal by his teammates.
Unforgettable Free Kicks
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Arsenal in 2009
“Too far for Ronaldo to think about it, ohhh….” These lines came out of a commentator considering the 35+ yards distance and wide angle. This goal from Ronaldo left the world shocked and stayed on the lips of football fans for a very long time. This goal from Cristiano had power, precision and deviation in the air that the goalkeeper couldn't reach the ball.
David Beckham vs Greece in 2001
On October 6, 2001, in the World Cup Qualification round of Europe, after a 2-1 score in favor of Greece, England were given a free kick from around 25 yards. David Beckham stood over the ball to take the free kick and scored, bursting the crowd into cheers and accolades and saving England from going into the FIFA World Cup playoffs.
Roberto Carlos vs France in 1997
Roberto Carlos is known for his blistering free kicks, and his videos are quite popular on social media platforms. His free kick against France in 1997 often appears at the top in many free kick rankings. The beauty of this free kick is that it comes from the outside of the foot from a distance of over 40 yards. The ball is carried by a notable curl, and the goalkeeper is left still.
Lionel Messi vs Liverpool in 2019
The 2022 World Cup winner and record 8-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is one of the best players as well as free kick takers in the world. Messi is not known for powerful shots and long-distance free kicks, but this kick against Liverpool in 2019 was from 35 yards. This goal is special not only for the distance and perfect placement with a spin on the ball, but also because it completed the Argentinian's 600 goals for Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs Spain
The score is 3-2, and Portugal is one goal behind the Spanish national team. It’s the FIFA World Cup, and Portugal will be out of the competition if they lose. The referee awards a free kick in the 88th minute to Portugal outside the box. Ronaldo steps up and scores, leaving De Gea unmoved and supporters on their feet, jumping up and down.
Ronaldo vs Messi - Who Has More Free Kick Goals?
Cristiano Ronaldo has 64 career free kick goals, while Messi, with his 5 free kick goals for Inter Miami, has 69.
Ronaldo, in terms of free kicks, is known for his different ranges, angles, and powerful knuckleballs, while Messi is a specialist in outside-the-box set-pieces, precision, and curl.
Best Free Kick Takers of All Time
10. Rogério Ceni – 61
As surprising as it is, Rogério Ceni played as a professional goalkeeper. Ceni, apart from his goalkeeping mastery, is known for his staggering 131 goals, mostly coming from dead-ball situations. He has over 60 penalty goals and 61 free kick goals in his long on-field career of 22 years.
Rogério Ceni also has his name registered in the Guinness World Records for the highest number of professional goals by a goalkeeper.
9. Zico – 62
Arthur Antunes Coimbra, popularly known as Zico, is a Brazilian football manager and former player who played as an attacking midfielder. He was called the “White Pelé” and was arguably the best football player of the late '70s and early '80s. Throughout his career, Zico scored 62 free kicks, and his style was quite versatile. He scored free kicks from all possible scoring angles and bent the ball both inside and outside. Goalkeepers were left clueless and frozen in most of his free kicks.
8. Diego Maradona – 62
Diego Maradona, regarded as one of the best players in the history of football, was also awarded the FIFA Player of the 20th Century alongside Pelé. He might be the only football player to be named alongside Pelé and shocked the football world multiple times. An inspiration to modern-day legends, Maradona was an icon before Ronaldo, Messi, and Zidane.
The Argentina and Napoli legend scored 62 goals from direct free kicks, most of which came during his time at Napoli. Maradona’s technique was very famous, bending the ball inside the goal very close to the woodwork.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo – 64
Ronaldo, who started his career with Sporting CP and earned the spotlight from his time at Manchester United, has been breaking records ever since. Cristiano Ronaldo did not lower his standards even now, when he’s 40, and continues delivering. The all-time top scorer in football was a phenomenal free kick taker during the first half of his career. The quality, number, and precision of his free kick goals, along with his iconic four long strides run-up and blistering knuckleballs, made him stand out.
Though the conversion rate has dropped since his Manchester United days, he still remains in 7th position with 64 goals.
6. David Beckham – 65
“Bend it like Beckham.” There was a time when the whole of England chanted this phrase. From sharp looks to consistent performances, David Beckham was a total showstopper and one of the best midfielders of his era. A legend at clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and PSG, Beckham was skilled, a crowd-puller, and a very commercially valuable player for his clubs.
His stats are no less impressive than his looks, with 127 goals and 225 assists. David Beckham scored 65 direct free kicks.
5. Victor Legrotaglie – 66
Regarded as the greatest in the history of Gimnasia y Esgrima and the best player of Mendocino, Victor Legrotaglie was a midfielder known for his free kicks. With a direct free kick tally of 66, the Argentine also scored 12 goals directly from corners.
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4. Ronaldinho Gaúcho – 66
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner and the greatest dribbler of all time, Ronaldinho achieved everything there is in football. From club achievements to international trophies, Ronaldinho held all the major honors and was a recipient of numerous accolades.
Talking about free kicks, he is the fourth-highest free kick scorer in the world with 66 goals.
3. Lionel Messi – 69
The current FIFA World Cup-winning captain and record Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, aka ‘La Pulga,’ is in the top 3 of the highest free kick scorers list. His free kick journey is quite the opposite of Cristiano Ronaldo’s.
While CR7’s free kicks were great and untouchable in his early years at Manchester United, Messi’s free kicks started going behind the net in the second half of his career, and his conversion rate improved greatly. Messi specializes in free kicks near the box and bends the ball perfectly and precisely into the corners.
2. Pelé – 70
Just one direct free kick goal ahead of Messi, Pelé is considered the greatest player of all time. He did things on the pitch in his era that people, even with modern technology and intense training regimes, still cannot replicate. Known for his remarkable skills and earning the staus of a complete football player, he was far ahead of his time and scored over 1,000 goals throughout his career. Pelé is the only football player to have won three FIFA World Cup trophies.
1. Juninho Pernambucano – 77
Juninho is a former Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder and primarily represented clubs Vasco da Gama and Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon).
Known for his free kick mastery and pioneering the knuckleball technique, Juninho is the greatest free kick taker of all time with 77 direct free kick goals to his name. Free kicks from over 25 yards seemed very easy to score when Juninho stood over the ball. He has scored free kicks from all angles and unimaginable distances. He bent, knuckle-balled, and scored grounded direct free kicks. Some sources claim that Juninho had a 44% free kick conversion rate at Lyon, while some believe that’s impossible, there’s no doubt he is the greatest free kick taker of all time.
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