5 best set-piece takers in the 21st century

#3 David Beckham - Retired

David BeckhamReal Madrid v Getafe

David Beckham used to be a man with many talents. The former midfielder not only had the ability to pull strings in the middle of the park, but he could also convert effortlessly from set-pieces.

Beckham was the perfect embodiment of a modern-day footballer and each of his clubs loved him for it.

Beckham had a knack for scoring audacious free-kicks, even from practically improbable angles and distances. Beckham’s free-kick against Greece in the World Cup qualifiers earned England a place in the 2002 showpiece event, making it one of football’s most memorable goals.

Overall, Beckham scored over 60 free-kick goals in his career, cementing his place as one of football’s best set-piece takers.

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#2 Lionel Messi - PSG

Paris Saint Germain v Lille OSC - Ligue 1 Uber Eats

Barcelona legend and Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi is widely considered to be the greatest player the world has ever seen. He is an exceptional reader of the game, can keep the game ticking with inch-perfect passes, and likes to score outrageous goals. To top it off, Messi is also an excellent set-piece taker.

Messi’s magical left foot allows him to swing the ball in from corners, which makes it difficult for the keeper to read. The Argentinian is also an adept penalty taker. Despite missing a few over the years, he remains a dependable choice for spot-kicks.

Finally, we have his free-kick ability. Messi is not too keen on shooting them from a long way out, but he is scary-accurate from close range. Funnily enough, Messi was not always a dependable set-piece taker.

He added this particular trait to his repertoire after 2012. In the 21st century, Messi has scored 50 free-kick goals for Barcelona and eight more for his country.

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#1 Juninho Pernambucano - Retired

New England Revolution v New York Red Bulls - FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup

No discussion of the best set-piece takers is complete without paying homage to the great Juninho Pernambucano. The Brazilian and Lyon legend is considered to be the best free-kick taker in the history of football, possessing the ability to convert from anywhere.

When it came to free-kicks, Juninho rarely discriminated. The Brazilian was happy to shoot from close range and from distance, usually having the same devastating effect. In his early days, he used to curl the ball in from 20-25 yards out.

Later down the road, he developed the “Knuckleball” technique, which made him equally deadly from distance. Juninho scored 77 free-kick goals in his career, making him the man with the most free-kick goals in recorded history.