Free kick specialists - The Present

A well taken free kick and the football gliding beyond all the obstacles into the back of the net is one of the most beautiful sights in the beautiful game.

The history of football is enriched with some really gifted free kick takers. The ability to consistently score from free kicks, is often considered as a rare and precious gift. A free kick goal cheers the crowd and the scorer alike, which shows how special this art is.

There have been some really gifted footballers who mastered this art and inspired youngsters. Every young footballer tries this skill on the ground and dreams of doing it like his idol. Although it looks easy, but, it’s just the opposite when you try doing it during an actual game.

Present: There are many talented free kick specialists who have mastered the skill. The list includes some of the greatest footballers of all time and some less popular names. The rare skill often proves to be the deciding factor in great matches. Whenever, these players score a free kick goal, the fans are left delighted and singing glory songs. Many footballers of the present have great ability from free kicks, but, its the consistency which makes a free kick taker a specialist.

Some of the present great free kick specialists are listed below in the order of their ranking (my opinion).

1 – Juninho Pernambucano - Almost everyone who loves watching free kick goals must have seen Juninho’s free kick videos. The greatest free kick taker of all time. His stats are too good to be true. He is undisputed in his consistency with free kicks. He has scored 40 free kick goals with his club Lyon. Almost, every time his team wins a free kick, it is as good as scoring a goal. He is capable of scoring from any range on his day. He is more like a myth, which will amaze the world forever.

2 – Ronaldinho - One of the most magical star of the recent times. Although, he is on a decline, but, Ronaldinho has always been a goalkeeper’s nightmare from the free kicks. His great ability from free kicks was one more feather in his cap. He has scored many quality free kick goals, throughout his career, for country and clubs. He had a unique style of taking free kicks and produced some great curling free kick goals. To see him play, has always been a treat to the eyes.

3 – David Beckham - One of the most popular Footballers of all time. The famous phrase “Bend it Like Beckham” itself speaks volumes about his wonderful ability with the free kicks. He scored one of the most popular goals of all time against Greece in 2002, to secure the World cup qualification for his national side. He has a huge fan following throughout the globe and is still feared from set pieces. He recently scored a brilliant goal from a corner kick.

4 – Cristiano Ronaldo - One of the greatest free kick specialists of all time. He is the master of a truly brilliant and unique technique of taking a free kick. He has done everything with his free kicks – curling, dipping, finding the crossbar, powerful shot. He became extremely popular for his consistency with the free kicks. He scored many great goals with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Portugal. His famous stance has become a symbol for ‘Cristiano Ronaldo‘. But, he has lost his dangerous consistency recently, and this is bad news.

5 – Alessandro Del Piero - One of the most gifted players of the present generation. He has been improving with his age and has become a great free kick taker. His consistency with the dead ball has earned him a place in this list.

(coming up – Free Kick Specialists – The Future.)