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Set-pieces continue to play a vital role in football, especially in cup competitions and knockout fixtures. The most recent FIFA World Cup in 2018 saw approximately 40% of its 169 goals come from corners, free-kicks and penalties.
In modern football, successful teams are usually elite in set-pieces. Take the ongoing Premier League season for example, where the top three sides (Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea), have all scored at least ten times from dead-ball situations.
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It is also easier than ever to buy a free-kick, with Europe's top five leagues seeing between 20 to 30 fouls per game. Therefore, it's no surprise that dead-ball situations continue to grow in importance, and can be the difference between a narrow win or a heartbreaking defeat.
James Ward-Prowse, Dimitri Payet and Lionel Messi have established themselves as legitimate free-kick specialists in recent seasons. In the case of other notable names, though, the hype has not necessarily matched the output.
On that note, we take a look at five players in the 21st century whose dead-ball abilities did not live up to their reputations.
#5 Roberto Carlos
Real Madrid and Brazil icon Roberto Carlos is best known for scoring arguably the greatest free-kick in history, against France in 1997. However, the left-back's technique involved power over placement.
When it did work, his set-pieces were incredible to watch. But more often than not, Carlos' free-kicks would sail over the goal or smash into the wall.
The Brazilian made over 850 appearances in his career, turning out for Brazil and the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Fenerbahce. Although he wasn't a bad free-kick taker by any means, Carlos' wonder goal against Les Bleus inflated his reputation.
#4 Wayne Rooney
England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is the record all-time goalscorer for the Red Devils (253 goals) and the Three Lions (53 strikes). Interestingly, some of the striker's landmark goals came from free-kicks.
He netted one from just outside the box while scoring a hat-trick on his debut for Manchester United in the Champions League. Rooney's 250th goal for the Red Devils was also a stunning free-kick to rescue a draw against Stoke City.
Despite boasting good technique, a powerful right foot and the ability to bend the ball, Rooney only scored eight free-kicks in nearly 500 Premier League appearances.
#3 Steven Gerrard
One of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Steven Gerrard is best known for his incredible long-range shooting. Blessed with a hammer of a right foot, the former England and Liverpool captain was lethal from distance. He scored numerous screamers over the course of his decorated career.
Gerrard's remarkable ability to find the target from far out meant he also took a fair share of free-kicks. In the 2010s, fans and pundits would often compare the Liverpool captain with Frank Lampard in terms of effectiveness from dead-ball situations.
However, Gerrard's long-range shooting did not always translate into goals from free-kicks. Despite scoring over 200 goals for Liverpool and England across more than 800 appearances, the midfielder scored only ten direct free-kicks.
#2 Harry Kane
It's baffling that Harry Kane still steps up to the occasional free-kick for club and country. The Tottenham Hotspur superstar and England captain is one of the best strikers in the world, and is renowned for his powerful shooting and lethal finishing.
Kane has immaculate technique and a natural eye for goal. Therefore, his consistent inability to get free-kicks on target has long been a source of puzzlement for the footballing fraternity.
The striker has played just under 500 games for club and country, netting 298 goals. Yet he has scored just one free-kick in his professional career, a late winner against Aston Villa in 2014-15 which came via a deflection off the wall.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
On paper, Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick tally is excellent. He has scored 56 of them, including 11 in the Premier League. However, a closer look at the numbers shows that Ronaldo has scored just seven free-kicks since 2017-18 (four in the last four years).
It is difficult to pinpoint the reason behind Ronaldo's inexplicable loss of accuracy from dead-ball situations. Between 2008 and 2013, he regularly scored more than five per season.
A possible explanation is that the Portuguese superstar compromises placement for power. Although his unique run-up and knuckle-ball technique is easy on the eye and impressive when it comes off, it also results in the ball smashing into the wall on most attempts.
As his stunning free-kick for Portugal in the 3-3 draw with Spain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup showed, perhaps Ronaldo would be better off with a shorter run-up and putting more bend on the ball.
In fact, Ronaldo's free-kick taking ability peaked during his first spell with Manchester United. According to Opta, he converted 33 of 444 attempts for Real Madrid. At the end of the 2020-21 season, he had converted just one of 72 attempts for Juventus.
Despite his undeniable talent and impressive numbers, it feels as though Ronaldo continues to be a first-choice free-kick taker for club and country purely because of his reputation.
