There are few moments in soccer, if not any sport, that captures the eye and imagination like the properly taken bending free-kick whistling crisp over defenders’ heads and into the net.
It’s a blend of artistry and precision where footballers take on a divine aura and leave fans in awe.
Over time, the art was perfected by several players to leave goalkeepers helpless and on their feet, admiring the beauty of a curling strike or a knuckleball shot that simply belied the law of physics.
Certain free-kick takers throughout the history of football will forever print their names in the sand of time. Some were specialists able to strike with surgical precision, while others redefined the process.
These players are the ones who have provided those magical moments over unattainable walls.
1. Juninho Pernambucano (77)
When it came to the art of the free kick, few innovated it as much as Juninho Pernambucano.
The Brazilian maestro burst onto the scene at Olympique Lyonnais, where he cultivated his practice of the knuckleball technique: a ball would hastily fly toward the goal, wobble in the air, and leave goalkeepers scratching their heads in confusion.
That method made him score from almost every angle, distance, or position on the field.
Juninho’s free kicks used more control than brute force, with quite the mastermind of ball movement. His perfect swerves and dips with the ball seemed a very easy nightmare for the goalkeepers when Juninho played.
Having called it a day back in 2013, Juninho’s influence in free-kick taking continues to inspire the next breed, leaving him quite clearly crowned with 77 free-kick goals as the undisputed king of freekicks.
2. Pelé (70)
Pelé’s greatness is always measured by the goal-scoring figures he reached and having won three World Cups. But what was often overlooked was how great he was at free kicks.
Pelé combined brute force with an unerring ability to place the ball exactly where he wanted. For all his might, his strikes became a beautiful garnish atop an impressive résumé of raw athleticism.
One of them was during the 1970 World Cup, in which his thunderous effort versus Romania in the group stages summed up his trademark style: power, precision, and purpose.
While he might have been more renowned for scoring goals in open play, Pelé’s set-piece mastery was key to his complete world footballing dominance.
3. Ronaldinho (66)
Always wearing a broad smile on his face and a deep-seated sense of fun, Ronaldinho played football as if it was an art form, with free kicks being no different.
The Brazilian had an unequaled flair that made every set piece look just like the creation of theater itself. He didn’t just score goals; he entertained, hoping always to catch a goalkeeper by surprise through overt attempts.
Whether it was a perfectly weighted chip over the wall, or perhaps a low drive under it, or even a curling side into the top corner, Ronaldinho had it all in his leg.
His free-kick goal against England in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup is forever etched in football lore: the moment he caught goalkeeper David Seaman out with a brazen, long-range strike.
This unpredictability made Ronaldinho a one-of-a-kind free-kick taker, whose genius will be remembered for generations.
4. Víctor Legrotaglie (66)
Legrotaglie often flies under the radar, but he is a legend in Argentine football, his free-kick expertise revered across South America.
For the better part of his career with Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza, Legrotaglie made arguably one of the most successful free-kick careers of his generation.
There was nothing flashy about Legrotaglie’s technique in free kicks.
He had a certain calmness when under pressure, with the ability to step up at critical moments and deliver inch-perfect strikes. His fame might not have stretched as far as some of the other legends on this list, but his impact in Argentine football and those 66 free-kick goals speak volumes for the man.
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5. Lionel Messi (65)
Lionel Messi is a genius on the pitch, everyone knows that.
But nothing less can be said about his development into one of the free-kick masters. Not a set-piece specialist earlier in his career, Messi definitely evolved in this aspect toward being one of the deadliest men from free-kick situations.
There is a certain elegance and precision in how Messi takes his free kicks, whether it is a curling strike into the top corner or low-driven down into the bottom corner.
That’s what separates him mostly angles from which he can score and distances. Even as his career rolls on, Messi’s wizardry on the free kick seems to get better, with the proof being deeds for PSG and Inter Miami.
6. David Beckham (65)
The one phrase that can define David Beckham as a player is “Bend it like Beckham.”
His ability to curl the ball with great precision and beauty around the defensive wall was a thing of repute. The precision with which he strikes free kicks has always made him the first choice for his club and country, and he most of the time delivers in critical situations.
One of the most iconic free-kick moments from Beckham was during a 2002 World Cup qualifier against Greece.
Still, Beckham was able to score a last-minute free kick and put England through into the finals of the World Cup. His mix and blend of technique, power, and consistency made him perhaps the most feared set-piece specialist of his era.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo (64)
CR7 is synonymous with goals, and the free-kick goals are a major part of his scoring legacy.
Famous for the wide-legged stance before an explosive strike, Ronaldo’s knuckleball technique was a revolution in itself. His free kicks were often marked with such an unpredictable curve that it created an ideal scene for the goalkeepers to misjudge.
Probably the best testimony to Ronaldo’s free-kick abilities was that stunning strike against Portsmouth in 2008, a moment when the whole world stood dumbfounded.
As his form over free kicks has dipped of late he however scored a sensational freekick goal in their 4-1 triumph over Al-Feiha on August 27 2024 closing up his career goal to 899, just one shy of 900.
His free-kick against Spain in the 2018 World Cup, where he completed his hat trick with a sublime strike, spoke volumes about his enduring brilliance.
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8. Diego Maradona (62)
Maradona will be remembered for his dribbling skills, the vision of a playmaker, and sheer footballing genius.
Free-kick skills complemented legendary development whereby his left foot could conjure magic from dead balls with the power to bend it precisely and delicately.
Free kicks by Maradona were very unpredictable.
From close range, he could easily put the ball through at the top corner, but from a distance, he was capable of inflicting power and leaving the goalkeepers dumbfounded. The style at free kicks was creative, daring, with flair.
9. Zico (62)
Often referred to as the “White Pelé,” was a Brazilian playmaker known for his free-kick abilities.
He had advertised himself to the entire world as the most deadly free-kick taker to have ever lived-he could score practically from anywhere, and do so with apparently no effort.
Zico would take a short and decisive run-up, necessitating the motion of three steps or less to let off a curling or otherwise dipping shot.
He was probably most famous for his set-piece accuracy. Whether it was from 20 yards out or 30, he would place the ball precisely where he wanted.
There are many truths to his impact on Brazilian football that cannot be disregarded, but his free kick count just goes to show just how unbelievably talented he truly was.
10. Rogério Ceni (61)
The name of Ceni might raise some eyebrows since he was a goalkeeper. But Ceni wasn’t just any goalkeeper; rather, he is the highest-scoring one in football history with over 130 goals to his name and an interesting 61 via free kicks.
Ceni added his knowledge of goalkeepers’ fragilities to his method, and he thus became deadly whenever there was a free kick.
He often stepped up with the confidence of a seasoned striker to deliver on free kicks with precision. Little wonder he should be considered an anomaly in the history of football because he is a goalkeeper who can play free kicks.
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