Top Free-Kick Specialists in Football History

Free-kick taking is a skill celebrated across football, with many stars renowned for their precision and power from set-pieces. This list honors some of the greatest free-kick takers ever, featuring famous names alongside some less widely recognized talents.

32. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry was one of the finest players in the early 2000s, scoring 226 goals for Arsenal, including 174 in the Premier League. Twelve of those league goals came directly from free-kicks, showcasing his elegant technique.

31. Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos wasn’t the most consistent free-kick scorer but delivered unforgettable strikes. His 40-yard thunderbolt against France in 1997 remains iconic.

30. Marcos Assuncao

Brazilian midfielder Marcos Assuncao, capped 11 times, excelled at long-range free-kicks during his time in Europe with Roma and Real Betis, playing a key role in Roma's 2000/01 Serie A title.

29. Rivaldo

Ballon d’Or winner Rivaldo’s exquisite ball control extended to free-kicks. He scored a memorable free-kick for Olympiacos against Liverpool in the Champions League.

28. Andreas Brehme

Brehme, famous for scoring the winning penalty in the 1990 World Cup final, was also a skilled free-kick taker. Interestingly, he took penalties with his left foot but used his right for free-kicks and corners.

27. Gheorghe Hagi

Romania’s greatest player, Gheorghe Hagi, scored numerous free-kicks, including the only goal in the 1986 European Super Cup that gave Steaua Bucharest victory.

26. James Ward-Prowse

Known for his deadly knuckleball technique, James Ward-Prowse has been praised by Pep Guardiola as the best free-kick taker he has seen, nearing David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18 free-kick goals by age 28.

25. Zinedine Zidane

Zidane was among the top players around 2000 and an excellent free-kick specialist, scoring notable strikes at the Euros in 2000 and 2004.

24. Jose Luis Chilavert

Goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert scored 67 career goals and was the first keeper to take free-kicks at the World Cup, nearly scoring in 1998 and testing Iker Casillas in 2002.

23. Michel Platini

Platini, a three-time Ballon d’Or winner, was a master of free-kicks, opening scoring with a free-kick in France’s Euro 1984 final triumph.

22. Juan Roman Riquelme

Riquelme, a brilliant playmaker, scored several free-kicks for Argentina, including two in a 2007 World Cup qualifier against Chile.

21. Teofilo Cubillas

Peru’s top player ever, Cubillas combined creativity with free-kick expertise, famously scoring from 20 yards with the outside of his foot at the 1978 World Cup.

20. Marcelinho Carioca

Brazilian Marcelinho Carioca was a prolific free-kick scorer, reportedly netting close to 100 from set-pieces and also scoring directly from corners.

19. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo scored one of the best Premier League free-kicks ever in 2008 and consistently threatens from set-pieces with his knuckleball style and signature stance.

18. Juan Arango

Venezuela’s finest player, Arango scored 15 Bundesliga free-kicks, known for his precise delivery during his years at Mallorca and Borussia Monchengladbach.

17. Andrea Pirlo

Italian maestro Pirlo combined sublime passing with free-kick mastery, scoring 26 free-kick goals in Serie A and providing assists from set-pieces.

16. Pierre van Hooijdonk

Dutch forward Van Hooijdonk was a rare tall striker to excel at free-kicks, bending them with pinpoint accuracy during Feyenoord’s UEFA Cup success in 2001/02.

15. Rogerio Ceni

Sao Paulo goalkeeper Ceni scored 129 career goals, including 59 free-kicks, an extraordinary tally for a keeper who also took penalties.

14. Roberto Baggio

Winner of the 1993 Ballon d’Or, Baggio combined styles of Platini, Zico, and Maradona in his free-kick technique, showing exceptional skill just outside the box.

13. Gianfranco Zola

Zola honed his craft with Diego Maradona and scored 12 Premier League free-kicks, matching Henry and Ronaldo’s tallies.

12. Pele

Pele’s free-kicks helped him become the first player to score at three consecutive World Cups. His last career goal was a 30-yard free-kick for New York Cosmos.

11. Didi

Brazilian legend Didi invented the "folha seca" (falling leaf) free-kick technique, a knuckleball style that still influences players today.

10. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho could strike from distance or curl the ball under the wall. He passed on his free-kick prowess to Lionel Messi during their time together at Barcelona.

9. David Beckham

Beckham was England’s set-piece king, holding a Premier League record with 18 free-kick goals and scoring memorable ones internationally, like his last-minute equalizer against Greece.

8. Alessandro Del Piero

Del Piero, Italy’s great, scored 58 free-kick goals (52 club, 6 country), using a Platini-inspired technique to curl the ball over walls and into corners.

7. Shunsuke Nakamura

Legendary Japanese midfielder Nakamura, famed for his free-kick ability at Celtic and Japan, was described by coach Steve Perryman as being able to "open a tin of beans" with his left foot.

6. Diego Maradona

While best known for open-play brilliance, Maradona was also excellent at free-kicks, often drawing fouls and bending shots into corners, inspiring many players after him.

5. Lionel Messi

Messi may not be the absolute best free-kick taker ever but is an artist in this skill. His remarkable finishes, like the one against Liverpool in 2019, have left keepers stunned.

4. Zico

Brazilian Zico scored over 100 free-kick goals, bending shots unpredictably by leaning back and raising his knee, making him a nightmare for goalkeepers.

3. Sinisa Mihajlovic

Mihajlovic, a high-scoring defender, holds the Serie A record with 28 free-kick goals and once scored a free-kick hat-trick for Lazio.

2. Ronald Koeman

Dutch defender Koeman had a powerful shot and was known as the "King of free-kicks," famously scoring the winning goal in Barcelona’s 1992 European Cup final.

1. Juninho Pernambucano

Juninho is regarded as the greatest free-kick taker of all time. He perfected the knuckleball technique and scored from beyond 40 yards multiple times, leaving many keepers helpless.