Ranking the Top 10 Free-Kick Takers in Football History

1. Thierry Henry 

Not a name often associated with free-kicks, though Henry is without question up there with the very best players in the world from the 21st century. Scoring over 200 goals for Arsenal alone, the Frenchman had an incredible technique and ability to whip balls in from any angle along the top of the 18-yard area. Truly a class act. 

2.Hulk

He is well known to many fans, often due to the thunderbolt he had for a left leg. The Brazilian was able to strike a ball with so much ferocity he no doubt struck the fear of God into those who made up the wall, as well as the keeper. 

3.Cristiano Ronaldo 

Ronaldo has scored the seventh most free-kick goals in football history – 64, at the time of writing. Not many can forget the incredible goals he scored against Portsmouth and Arsenal in the iconic red of Manchester United, but he repeated those moments of absolute bliss in Spain, Italy and now Saudi-Arabia. 

4.Roberto Carlos 

He isn’t a mainstay for his conversion rate, but he had a devastating free-kick which never seemed to find the back of the net under any sort of ‘normal’ circumstance. His free-kick goals always seemed to be absolutely spectacular. 

Lest we forget the 1997 iconic World Cup-winner against France!

5.Rivaldo

Rivaldo was a wizard with the ball at his feet, and his ability to land a free-kick was just another facet of this ability. Able to manipulate the positioning of the ball with respect to the wall and the keeper – he is certainly a name worthy of inclusion. 

6.James Ward-Prowse 

Given that he isn’t given the respect he deserves in these conversations, Ward-Prowse is just one free-kick goal behind David Beckham (at the time of writing). Currently on loan with Nottingham Forest from West Ham, he is a player you don’t want to give too many dead-ball opportunities to. 

7.Neymar 

One of the most technically gifted players in world football. Neymar is a magnificent player, but also one capable of manipulating the football to twist and turn to his liking. He might as well pick the ball up and go and put it where he wants to because that is essentially the same outcome as his free-kicks!

8.Zinedine Zidane

At the turn of the 21st century, who was a better and more complete free-kick taker than Zidane? Another player with an incredible ability to manipulate the ball and see it put keepers in serious trouble. 

9.Andrea Pirlo 

A player who spent the majority of his career caressing the ball to his liking, the Italian was able to translate that same ability into his free-kick taking duties. Pirlo boasts a place among the most free-kicks in Serie A history!

10.Ronaldinho

Could this list really leave out Ronaldinho? One of the original founders of the knuckleball or the tactics involving seeing the ball under the wall, the Brazilian’s name still brings David Seaman a shudder. 

11.David Beckham 

One of the only football players to see their ability – and surname – inspire a generation to attempt to bend it like Beckham. Unfortunately, none were able to come close to his ability over the dead-ball and so he is still renowned as one of the greatest free-kick takers of all time.

12.Lionel Messi 

The greatest footballer of all time is, at the very least, still seen as an artist with the teed-up ball at his feet. His contributions for Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was multi-faceted, but the countless number of goals scored from free-kicks doesn’t often get spoken about enough.