Top 10 free kick takers in Europe right now

There are some amazing free-kick takers in Europe at the moment
There are some amazing free-kick takers in Europe at the moment

#3 Aleksandar Kolarov

Kolarov celebrates after opening the scoring for Roma in a recent game against Bolognese from a free-kick
Kolarov celebrates after opening the scoring for Roma in a recent game against Bolognese from a free-kick

Known in some circles as the Serbian Roberto Carlos, the 34-year-old left back is fit to be talked about in the same breath as the legendary Brazilian when it comes to free kicks.

The former Manchester City player continues to be formidable from set-pieces and over the last few seasons, he has been one of the best free kick takers in Europe. He has already scored 3 direct free kicks this season alone for his club.

Kolarov can strike them from quite a distance and is also good at just drinking the ball above the wall and into the net from right outside the box as well.


#2 Miralem Pjanic

Miralem Pjanic will be a Barcelona player next season
Miralem Pjanic will be a Barcelona player next season

Miralem Pjanic is going to Barcelona at the end of the season. However, he has served Juventus well enough and has blessed them with some outrageous free kick goals. Hence, it wouldn't be wrong to say that he will be missed by the Bianconeri.

The 30-year-old has been alternating with others including Paulo Dybala on free kick duties but he has been more successful with them over the course of his career than his teammates.

Pjanic has scored 22 direct free-kick goals in his career and the Cules will be hoping that he can produce more of the same at Camp Nou. Oh wait, maybe not yet because they already have...


#1 Lionel Messi

Leo Messi is miles ahead of the competition
Leo Messi is miles ahead of the competition

Lionel Messi did not start off as a free kick specialist. It's just another skill that he picked up on the way. Perhaps the greatest modern day footballer alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi has been the best free kick taker in Europe for a while now.

He has scored an incredible 48 direct free kick goals for Barcelona. He has already scored 5 this season and 8 each in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. Those are ridiculous figures. But then again almost all the figures that exemplify Messi's greatness are ridiculous.

Lionel Messi is nearly unstoppable from free kicks and when he decides to find the top bins from set-pieces, goalkeepers often end up being mere spectators.

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Edited by Ashwin
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