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One of the best sights in football is to watch the net ripple from a brilliantly taken free-kick. There have been a number of footballers who have made their names as brilliant set-piece takers. From Juninho to the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, we have been blessed to watch some really amazing free-kick takers.
In the current era as well, we have some real masters of the art. While some of the best players in the world feature on this list, there are also a couple of lesser known players as well. Without much ado, let us take a look into the top 10 free-kick takers in Europe at the moment:
#10 Emil Forsberg
25-year-old Swedish winger Emil Forsberg has been turning heads with his brilliant performances for RB Leipzig in the past 2 seasons. The versatile winger is blessed with plenty of trickery, technical skills and dribbling abilities, but what he is perhaps best known for are his immaculate set-piece abilities.
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Crowned Swedish midfielder of the year in 2014 and 2016, Forsberg has been integral to RB Leipzig’s meteoric rise and astonishing performances this season. Not only is he a goal-scoring threat from free-kicks, he is also excellent in putting the ball in a threatening area from set-pieces.
Forsberg’s performances and incredible free-kick abilities have drawn a lot of attention and it will not be a surprise if the talented Swedish playmaker makes a move to one of Europe’s top clubs in the summer transfer window.
#9 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo would definitely not make this list last year, but this season, the Portuguese international has upped his game once again when it comes to free-kicks. Famed for using the distinctive knuckleball technique, Ronaldo has already scored an incredible 3 free-kick goals including a memorable last minute winner against Sporting CP in the Champions League.
The 4-time Ballon d’Or winner has a knack of scoring free-kicks when it matters most and his goal against Celta Vigo this year in the Copa Del Rey is one of the best free-kicks of this season.
The Portuguese international’s free-kick stats have been pretty impressive this season:
Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick stats in 2016/17 seasonTotal shotsOn targetOff targetGoalsConversion rate19163315.79%
However, the Portuguese international is still only 9th on this list, because out of the 16 shots on target, 9 of them were into the wall reducing his free-kick efficiency considerably. Here is Ronaldo’s brilliant free-kick against Sporting CP in the Champions League:
#8 Christian Eriksen
25-year-old Danish international, Christian Eriksen is among the best set-piece takers in the Premier League. Tottenham, under Mauricio Pochettino, have become one of the best teams in England and Eriksen’s influence on the side cannot be underestimated.
The team’s main set-piece taker, Eriksen has time and again rescued Spurs’ from sticky situations with his brilliant free-kick taking abilities. Calm and composed on the ball, the talented playmaker is often the main creative influence.
While his passing, technical abilities and vision are rightly lauded, Eriksen’s main strength is arguably his free-kick abilities. A dead-ball specialist, Pochettino will be hoping that the Danish international continues scoring incredible free-kick goals.
#7 Gylfi Sigurdsson
Arguably Premier League’s best set-piece taker, Gylfi Sigurdsson has time and again proven why he is the best Icelandic footballer at the moment. Easily Swansea’s best player, the Iceland international has been the main reason why Swansea still have a chance of surviving in the Premier League.
Sigurdsson has undeniable quality and his set-piece abilities give us a glimpse of the immense talent he possesses. Always a threat from dead ball situations, Sigurdsson is equally effective both at scoring from direct free-kicks and setting up teammates from long distance free-kicks.
What makes Sigurdsson such an effective set-piece taker, is the fact that he has so many different ways of taking a free-kick. Capable of curling the ball well away from the goalkeeper’s reach, Sigurdsson is definitely one of the best free-kick takers in world football at the moment.
#6 Gareth Bale
Real Madrid and Wales superstar Gareth Bale is more than capable of scoring some stunning free-kick goals. At Real Madrid, his free-kick opportunities are limited because of the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo but for the Wales national team, Bale has time and again shown his prowess from dead ball situations.
Still only 27, the Welshman has long been spoken about as Ronaldo’s replacement at Real Madrid and when he is fit, Bale has shown why he is considered to be among the best players in the world.
Bale played an integral part in Wales’ fairytale journey to the Euro semi-final where he scored some stunning free-kicks in both the qualifying stages and the tournament proper itself. Capable of getting a wicked dip on the ball, Bale’s free-kicks have caused opposition goalkeepers plenty of nightmares.
#5 Neymar Jr.
The man for the big occasion, Brazil and Barcelona superstar Neymar has time and again proved why he is the go-to man in crunch situations. Blessed with immense talent, Neymar has already scored some memorable and stunning free-kicks for both Brazil and Barcelona.
The standout player in Barcelona’s incredible comeback against PSG in the Champions League, Neymar got the ball rolling in the 88th minute with a stunning long-range free-kick into the top corner.
Always delivering under pressure, the Brazilian has also scored some memorable set-pieces for his national team often dragging them single-handedly across the line. A truly gifted and incredible footballer, Neymar is definitely among the best free-kick takers in the world.
#4 Lionel Messi
One of the two standout players of this generation, Lionel Messi has made free-kick taking an art. A threat from any angle and any distance, Messi has often scored some spectacular curling free-kicks at crucial intervals.
Earlier this season, the Argentine had become so good with his dead ball abilities, that he scored 3 free-kicks in 3 successive matches in the early weeks of 2017 (against Bilbao, Villarreal and again against Bilbao).
Capable of going over the wall or curling into the top corner to the same side as the goalkeeper, Messi's varied and effective set-pieces have time and again proven to be the difference in crucial matches. One of Messi's free-kicks for Argentina in the Copa Centenario was even nominated for the Puskas award this year.
Sit back and enjoy one of the best free-kicks you will ever see!
#3 Dimitri Payet
One of the most dreaded set piece takers in world football at the moment, Dimitri Payet has scored some unbelievable free-kicks in the last year. The Frenchman;s incredible set-piece abilities had made him a firm fan favourite at West Ham until he made a controversial move back to Ligue 1 giants Marseille.
Capable of getting the ball to dip and swerve in scarcely believable angles, Payet’s distinctive free-kicks almost give the opposition goalkeeper no chance of saving them. One of the best French midfielders at the moment, Payet is considered by many to be the most consistent free-kick taker at the moment.
The 29-year-old will be looking to continue performing at the same level and contribute significantly to both Marseille and the French national side in the coming years. The below video shows exactly what Payet is capable of:
#2 Miralem Pjanic
Bought by Juventus as a replacement for Paul Pogba, 26-year-old Miralem Pjanic has quickly settled into his role as the chief playmaker in this very impressive Juventus side. Gifted with amazing technical ability, playmaking skills and tactical versatility, Pjanic is perhaps best known for his incredible set-piece taking ability.
Described by the legendary Juninho as the best free-kick taker in the world in 2015, Pjanic has scored some absolute beauties for both his club and national sides in the last few years. Not only is he known for his accurate bending direct free-kicks, he is also renowned for delivering questioning balls into the box from anywhere on the pitch.
An integral part of the all-conquering Juventus side, Allegri will be hoping that the Bosnian keeps his good form going for the remainder of this campaign.
#1 Hakan Calhanoglu
There are very few players who are known exclusively for their free-kick skills. Legendary Lyon and Brazil star Juninho was one, AC Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu is another. The 23-year-old can almost make the ball listen to his will and is a true master in the art of taking set pieces.
Citing Cristiano Ronaldo and Juninho as inspirations, Calhanoglu has arguably already passed the Portuguese superstar in terms of free-taking abilities. While the Turkish international is a supreme playmaker in his own right, he is almost always only talked about for his excellent set-piece abilities.
Both his club and country’s designated set-piece taker, Calhanoglu is quite clearly the best exponent of the dead ball in world football at the moment. His 50-yard free-kick against Borussia Dortmund is probably the best free-kick of all time! You definitely do not want to miss this video:
