5 players who have scored the most club free-kicks in the 21st century
There are few sights more satisfying to behold on a football pitch than a direct free-kick ending up in the back of the net. Set-pieces are a very important part of the beautiful game and mastery over them could prove to be the difference between two sides in tightly contested affairs.
We've had plenty of wonderful free-kick takers in the game. Most set-piece specialists have their own signature way of taking free-kicks. Cristiano Ronaldo popularized the 'knuckleball' technique in the early stages of his career.
Lionel Messi became phenomenal at free-kicks later in his career but the Argentine goes for placement over power and it has worked out greatly for him.
But who is the greatest free-kick taker of all time? Who has had the best success rate from direct free-kicks?
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five players who have scored the most club free-kicks in the 21st century.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo - 47 free-kick goals
Don't let Cristiano Ronaldo's horrendous free-kick record from recent seasons beguile you. The Portuguese international was one of the best free-kick takers in the world during the latter years of his first stint at Manchester United. He carried that form over to La Liga after joining Real Madrid.
Ronaldo uses the 'knuckleball technique' and his signature stance, run-up and strike are all emulated by aspiring footballers all around the world. Ronaldo's club teammate Marcus Rashford used to be a fan and uses this exact technique when he is on set-piece duties.
Ronaldo induces a lot of power, swerve and dip into his strikes and when he hits the sweet spot, it is almost impossible for the goalkeepers to save them. He has scored 47 free-kicks in his club career.
Exactly 14 years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo scored this iconic free kick. https://t.co/yPm7N8KAyQ
#4 Lionel Messi - 50 free-kick goals
Lionel Messi is one of the best free-kick takers in the world right now. The Argentinian international was not a free-kick taker in the early stages of his career. But once he started putting hours into it, Messi inevitably became one of the best at it.
Messi's free-kicks are all about precision. He usually gets the right amount of height on his shots and puts just enough curl on the strike to beat the goalkeeper at his far post. The Paris Saint-Germain man is yet to score a direct free-kick for his new club. But Messi scored a total of 50 free-kick goals for Barcelona.
Just another Messi free kick 🥱
https://t.co/WZ7LWpheTn