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La Liga giants FC Barcelona have always prioritized footballing style over results. They are not only determined to win, but they are also keen on winning the right way.
However, finesse and flash are not all there is to the game we love. You must also make the most of set-pieces to win matches and important trophies.
Today, we will take a look at five dead-ball specialists, who have popped up with important goals time and again for FC Barcelona.
Here are the top-five set-piece takers for the Blaugrana in the 21st century.
#5 Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic was often an easy target for Barcelona fanatics. They criticized him for his lack of dynamism and charisma in the middle of the pitch, but rarely applauded him for his tireless work rate.
Rakitic was not only a capable central midfielder, but he was also Barcelona’s first-choice corner taker.
The Croatian’s ability to swing in crosses from corners got Barcelona out of many tricky situations, helping the club score invaluable goals.
With the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez in the team, Rakitic rarely got the chance to take free-kicks or penalties. He scored a single free-kick and a penalty in 310 games for FC Barcelona between 2014 and 2020.
#4 Xavi
Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia has produced and will continue to produce many footballers over the years. However, very few of them are likely to be able to hold a candle to the genius of Xavi Hernandez.
The former central midfielder served the club with his mind and soul for 17 seasons, winning 25 trophies, including eight La Ligas and four Champions Leagues.
Xavi, who only grew in stature as the years went by, was a passing maestro in every sense of the word. He was able to pick out his teammates from miles out and also set the tempo of the match without breaking a sweat.
Xavi was not necessarily known for hitting the back of the net from open play. However, his curling efforts from free-kicks were difficult to track for any goalkeeper in the world.
Xavi used to take free-kicks on the edge of the penalty area and delicately place the ball into the corner. The Spaniard netted ten free-kick goals in 767 games for Barcelona. He also converted two penalties in Barcelona colors.
#3 Neymar
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar was an excellent set-piece taker during his time at Barcelona. Thanks to the genius of Lionel Messi, he did not always get the opportunity. But whenever he did, he tried to make the most of it.
His dizzying footwork drew countless challenges during his Barcelona spell, which, more often than not, led to free-kicks in favorable positions and even penalties.
Between 2013 and 2017, Neymar scored 12 penalties and five free-kicks. His final Barcelona penalty and free-kick came in the same game in 2017 - the famous 6-1 win over PSG in the Champions League Round of 16.
#2 Ronaldinho
When FC Barcelona signed Ronaldinho from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, the club were in desperate need of joy and silverware. The Brazilian showstopper brought both to the club, emerging as one of the best players in the history of the club.
Ronaldinho was one of the very few footballers who could leave an imprint without getting on the scoresheet. He pulled defenders towards him and left them in the dust, awestruck, with his unmatched footballing wizardry.
He was the golden boy who could do it all, and seeing him on this list should hardly come as a surprise.
Between 2003 and 2008, Ronaldinho was Barcelona’s primary penalty kick dispatcher. His unusual run-up fooled most goalkeepers, leaving them rooted to the spot as he wheeled away in celebration.
He scored 29 penalties for Barcelona, eight of which were match-winning goals. He also scored 20 direct free-kicks for the Camp Nou outfit.
#1 Lionel Messi
The most prolific player to don the colors of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi also happens to be the best set-piece taker in the club’s history. The Argentine rose through the ranks of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy to eventually wear the captain’s armband.
His majestic right foot helped Barcelona to 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Copa del Reys, amongst other honors.
Following Ronaldinho’s departure in 2008, Messi gradually ascended as Barcelona’s first-choice free-kick and penalty taker. At first, Messi was hardly the best free-kick taker in the team, with his La Masia senior Xavi being the undisputed choice.
However, later down the road, Messi improved upon his free-kicks and unsurprisingly emerged as one of the best in the world.
Messi was also Barcelona’s primary penalty taker for the last decade. He did miss a few along the way, but overall, he was a pretty dependable penalty kick taker.
Messi dispatched 82 penalties and scored a whopping 50 free-kicks in 778 matches for Barcelona.
