'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
There are plenty of ways to score goals in football. At the end of the day, all that matters is that the ball ends up in the back of the net. But there are few sights that are more satisfying to watch on the field than a long-range shot which fizzes its way past a diving goalkeeper and into goal.
Whether it be curlers or thumping strikes where players have gone hell for leather, watching the net bulge after a strike from distance is an absolute treat. Long-range shooters are important to every team. They can be the difference makers in games where one side is finding it hard to break down the opposition's defence.
When teams run out of ideas or a resolute low-block is set up to frustrate them, a powerful strike from range can help them bypass their problems and score goals. On that note, let's take a look at five of the best long-range shooters in football.
#5 Kevin De Bruyne - Belgium/Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the most technically accomplished players in the world today. He is also one of the best midfielders of his generation. The Belgian international has a skillset replete with incredible through balls, exceptional ball control and also thumping strikes from range.
Affording De Bruyne any kind of space in the attacking half could be detrimental to the opposition. The 30-year-old can score wonderful long rangers with either foot and this makes him a nightmare to defend against for defenders.
They are forced to constantly guess which way he is going to go and they cannot get it wrong as he produces some thunderous strikes with either foot. De Bruyne scored a spectacular left-footed long-ranger for Belgium at Euro 2020 in their group stage game against Denmark.
He also scored some stunning long-range shots for City last term, including a monstrous left-footed strike from 25 yards out against Borussia Monchengladbach. He is quite consistent when it comes to scoring from range and is undoubtedly one of the best distance shooters in the world right now.
#4 Bruno Fernandes - Portugal/Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes has been a talismanic figure for Manchester United since joining the club in January 2020. He is an extremely creative and quick-thinking midfielder who has just as good an eye for goal as he has for a pass.
Fernandes has already scored some worldies for Manchester United inside two years. He has scored some stunning free-kicks and some exceptional long-rangers. Fernandes' wonderful effort from 25-yards out against Everton in the Premier League last term is arguably the pick of the lot.
That goal and his subsequent celebration were reminiscent of Eric Cantona's wonderful lobbed effort against Sunderland in 1996. One of Fernandes' early goals for Manchester United was a thumping low-drive from around 30-yards out against Everton in the 2019-20 season.
Fernandes is also a very good set-piece specialist. His technique is immaculate and there's no doubt that the 27-year-old will continue to score some absolute peaches for Manchester United.
#3 Ruslan Malinovskyi - Ukraine/Atalanta
Atalanta is one of the most entertaining sides in Europe right now. They have a squad full of exciting players and Ruslan Malinovskyi is chief among them. The 28-year-old midfielder scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists for Atalanta in 43 appearances across all competitions in the 2020-21 season.
Malinovskyi can produce some thunderous strikes with his left foot and he can generate a lot of power with his right as well. He has developed a great understanding with Atalanta forward Duvan Zapata and has now become a regular feature in the starting lineup.
Malinovskyi has scored some monstrous goals from range. He is also pretty good at close-range free-kicks and is pretty good at sliding the ball under the wall and into the net as well.
Atalanta rely on him to contribute in both the goalscoring and chance creating departments. The Ukraine international is the kind of player defenders shouldn't afford an inch of space to as he will use that room to unleash some potent strikes.
#2 Lionel Messi - Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi just has unreal technique. Whether it be free-kicks or well-placed curlers from right outside the box or thumping strikes from long-range, Messi can do it all with unmatched flair.
His thunderous strike from 30-yards out against PSG in the Champions League last term was one of the best long-range goals of the season. Messi has also perfected the art of taking free-kicks and he is one of the best set-piece specialists in the world.
The Argentine international recently produced an astounding free-kick from range against Chile at the 2021 Copa America. Messi's long-range efforts are all about precision and it is a reflection of his control over the ball and his technique. The 34-year-old is inarguably one of the best long-range shooters in football currently.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal/Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is inarguably one of the best long-range shooters of all time. At the peak of his powers, Ronaldo was one of the best free-kick takers in the game as well.
His shooting technique, which helps him generate an incredible amount of swerve and dip on the ball, has enabled him to trouble goalkeepers throughout his career. The Portuguese international still scores plenty of worldies from range and he is one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet even at the age of 36.
Some of his best long-rangers in the 2020-21 season came against Ferencvaros, AS Roma and against Sweden for Portugal. Ronaldo has now joined Manchester United and the Red Devils have quite a few wonderful shooters in their ranks at the moment.
