Five best free-kick takers in the world at the moment

3) Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale

There will be more than just one pair of raised eyebrows on seeing Gareth Bale third on this list, given the absolute screamers he consistently sent into the back of the net last season. But a combination of factors see him drop down to third in the list this season. The first reason is the limited opportunities he has had this season, through both injury and the options Carlo Ancelotti has in the wide areas; the second is the form of the man who is now occupying the second spot- but more on that later. Even though some might argue that Bale doesn’t deserve to be on this list at all since I’m only considering current form, but given his escapades from last season, Bale does deserve his position.

The seemingly solitary talking point from Tottenham Hotspurs’ win over Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League match at White Hart Lane was the pair of superb strikes by Gareth Bale- both from free kicks. His strike in the 3rd minute of injury time after the full 90 minutes had been played sent the rafters soaring at The Synagogue. His strikes followed the free kick he dispatched against Newcastle United to open his scoring. Another piledriver from the left foot of the Welshman came in the match versus Slovakia, in which he scored an absolute peach of a goal from 30 yards out. And one for posterity’s sake- the goal Bale scored as a youngster playing for Southampton against Derby County; maybe it was a sign for the things to come.