Top 10 Free Kick takers in football history.
Scoring Free Kicks requires accuracy, intelligence and technique. Players who convert from Free Kicks are assets to their teams .
To some players it is a gift while others perfect this skill through consistent practice .
This article will look at the top 10 free kick takers in the history of football.
10. ROBERTO CARLOS
Roberto Carlos was known for his bullet shot. The Brazilian left back started his career as a striker before switching to defence.
For Carlos it was power over curves and during his time at Real Madrid, opposition players dreaded the sight of Roberto Carlos standing over the Free kicks.
9. WESLEY SNEIJDER
Midfield maestro with special dribbling and passing ability. Sneijder may not have scored many goals directly from Free kicks but his excellent crosses from Free kicks resulted In many goals.
8 STEVEN GERRARD
Steven Gerrard remains one of the finest Midfielders in football history.
The current Aston Villa Manager was always a threat with his powerful free kicks for Liverpool and England.
7. ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero is number seven on the list.
The curls on his set pieces were always a delight to watch with his conversion rate excellent.
6. DAVID BECKHAM
Always a danger from set pieces at Manchester United and England .
David Beckham was a potent free kick weapon in Sir Alex Ferguson’s star studded Manchester United team.
Beckham’s well calculated deliveries were some of the best you will ever come across in football history.
5. CRISTIANO RONALDO
In his prime, scoring free kicks was a regular feature in Cristiano Ronaldo’s game.
Though that has changed , the Portuguese superstar is still confident enough to stand over free kicks at Manchester United and the Portuguese National team.
His trademark positioning for free kicks is one adored and emulated by Youngsters all over the world .
4. RONALDINHO
Ronaldinho is number five on the list. The Brazilian is one of the most gifted Footballers in history.
He will mesmerize opponents at will and was a constant threats from Free kicks scoring from short and long distances .
3. ANDREA PIRLO
Andrea Pirlo was every managers dream playmaker.
The Italian was intelligent with great passing and playmaking ability.
Everytime Pirlo stood over Free kicks, there was a good chance it will be on target with Goalkeepers requiring great effort to stop his efforts.
Pirlo is recorded with over 35 free kick goals during his Career.
2. LIONEL MESSI
The PSG star is number two on our list. Messi remains a threat from set pieces with his blessed left foot.
His kicks are intelligently executed under the wall of defence , over the wall and mostly curling shots that leave goalkeepers helpless as the ball finds it’s way into the net.
1. JUNINHO PERNAMBUCO
Juninho tops this list . The current generation will certainly enjoy watching highlights of his Free kicks to fully understand why he was referred to as “The Free Kick god”.
Juninho scored from stunning distances during his time at Lyon .
For me, he is the best free kick taker In football history.
