It correlates with his long range shots conversion rate. Mata is properly more intelligent than most at choosing when to shoot.
Best free-kick takers in the world?
- Thread starter Red4Life_#7
- Start date
Pjanic is incredible.
I guess that both "great" and "a lot" are quite subjective terms. I think he can easily be the best free kick taker in the world right now. Is there anyone who is clearly better than him, that it would make it wrong to call him the best free kick taker right now?
And about scoring a lot, I believe that to become the free kick top scorer in La Liga's history you have to score at least some free kicks. If you're talking about conversion rate, you may have a point, last year wasn't his best, but still... I reckon he is a great free kick taker.
Jose Luis Chilavert
Rogerio Ceni
Rogerio Ceni
Marcelinho by far. He played most of his life at Corinthians, youtube him.
Marcos Assuncao and Juninho come second.
Today I have no idea. No way its Messi though.
Marcos Assuncao and Juninho come second.
Today I have no idea. No way its Messi though.
Yeah, Zico would be my favourite from yesteryear. Accuracy is unmatched.Yep, his raw conversion stats are fairly surprising!
Anyway, for the current lot — intermediate range: Pjanić, short: Dybala
All-time — intermediate range: Juninho, short: Zico
Aye, he should be first choice for anything within 25 yards. But I noticed that recently - it might have been the first or second free-kick after he scored against Leicester, he couldn't even muscle his way to the top of the pecking order and had to stand sadly in the background while some clown ballooned it over the bar.
Cristiano is shit at taking free kicks, it's just that his ego can't take not shootin every single one of them, so occasionally he scores a screamer which gives the impression he is capable of doing them. That shot 2014 where he hit Phillip Lahm, the one person wall and smalles player on the field, was hilarious.
Anyway, throwing James in here.
Anyway, throwing James in here.
I'm fairly sure these stats are inaccurate as stats weren't collected as thoroughly in the early days of the premier league as they are now.
Beckham must have more than 5 league goals from free kicks, surely?
A few from the past who were awesome
Marcus Ascunsao
Juan Roman Riquelme
Alvaro Recoba
Roberto Baggio
Alex Del Piero
Marcus Ascunsao
Juan Roman Riquelme
Alvaro Recoba
Roberto Baggio
Alex Del Piero
Messi's freekick technique is brilliant.
Just checked, those stats are from the 2001/02 season until January 2015.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...l-news/mata-named-most-deadly-premier-8482163
Not the best sample size. Not sure if Beckham's conversion rate would go up or down but there'd certainly be more goals!
Good era for free-kick takers that, or perhaps I'm just being a nostalgic sad case. Can add:
Rivaldo
Van Hooijdonk
Zola
Albertz
Zidane
As well as the already mentioned Juninho, Beckham, Chilavert, etc.
Ah that makes sense!
I think Neymar, Pjanic, [Irrelevant point] are clearly better now. Maybe Dybala too? I remember him scoring quite a few. By not that great, I meant that he wasn't on their level, not that he was bad. Messi's good and one of the best but I think there are quite a few players who are as good or better than him at free kicks.
All-time it's not really close: Juninho. He was able to score consistently from any position up to 40+m with all kind of techniques while most others were one trick ponies.
Currently I'd say Neymar. Already 5 free kicks scored this season.
Currently I'd say Neymar. Already 5 free kicks scored this season.
Dybala has the second best conversion rate in Europe since 2013. He absolutely deserves to be mentioned.
Now probably Messi.
My biased best of all time Van Hooijdonk.
My biased best of all time Van Hooijdonk.
Current has to be Messi, and I think he's among the best free kick takers of all time (although probably not the best one)
Current: Neymar
Past: Beckham
Past: Beckham
Agreed. Just perplexed at how many people are saying Messi when he's below plenty of players in those lists.
Neymar's scored 5 since he's been in Paris and when he got the chance at Barcelona he also scored quite a few.
How can you guys say Messi? His conversion rate is terrible. He isn't even in the top 20 current players.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.dail...i-doesnt-make-20-free-kick-takers-Europe.html
https://www.google.com/amp/www.dail...i-doesnt-make-20-free-kick-takers-Europe.html
Valencia would be proud.
Messi 
It's like by default he has to be mentioned in everything.
It's like by default he has to be mentioned in everything.
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Past -Roberto Carlos had some good ones.
Present -Ron,Messi.
Present -Ron,Messi.
Alonso deserves a mention. Rarely wastes a free kick, most often a goal/save/hits the bar. No clue about his record pre-Chelsea but for Chelsea he's been outstanding at free kicks.
Original OP asks for 'best free kick takers' and now its turned into a conversion rate conversation.
Is best...
1. most outrageous
2. difficulty/angle
3. distance
4. consistency of hitting target
5. goal ratio
6. style/entertainment factor
7. speed/power
Without a clear definition most of the players discussed could be included in some capacity.
Is best...
1. most outrageous
2. difficulty/angle
3. distance
4. consistency of hitting target
5. goal ratio
6. style/entertainment factor
7. speed/power
Without a clear definition most of the players discussed could be included in some capacity.
Because conversion rate is the thing that matters the most, not who’s showing the most of his crotch while waiting for their attempt.
Mario Basler deserves a mention from the past by the way, IIRC around 30 of his 60 Bundesliga goals were freekicks. Even more amazingly, 5 or 6 he scored from a corner directly. One season, he scored 3 goals that way.
Scoring the most goals from different kind of places with the least shots taken. Style is irrelevant, hitting the target doesn't matter if the keeper just catches it or saves it easily.
There aren't many in the PL for example that could take a pop from different angles and lengths. Eriksen, Sigurðsson and Brunt are the best dead ball specialists. They all take very good corners, indirect and direct free kicks. The much mentioned Messi doesn't take many indirect freekicks and you rarely see him score from a distance. Seen it maybe once or twice.
FWIW I think that the game is more tactical now so we both see less fouls near the box and less players taking the shot from far out like you would see Carlos or Mihajlovic.
CL free kicks may have been more, I always remember feeling he could score with any free kick in those games.
Does Juninho still play? A free kick was basically a penalty if he took it
That is a solid list, I'd add sinisa mihajlovic and must mention that Juninho was the best and most consistent free taker I've seen in my lifetime. It seemed that he could score a free kick from anywhere
The current best free kick taker believe it or not plays in the MLS. Sebastian Giovinco. The entire league knows not to foul TFC anywhere near the 18 because he scores so many free kicks. He's already the top scorer from set plays in MLS history (as short as it is) and he's only played there 3 years (Beckham played more MLS games than he has) It's almost like taking a pk for him. Too bad Italy turned their nose at him. They could have used him...
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Sinisa Mihajlovic, easily one of the best free-kick takers I've ever seen.
Past: Zico
Present: Neymar
Present: Neymar
Probably cause of the stat that's crept up in recent days that he's got the most in La liga history, the guy takes so so many of them. Pretty much the same with Ronaldo but he takes even more cause he hits them from ridiculous distances. Neither are all that in that department really.
Present: Pjanic
Past: Not even close
Past: Not even close
I would love to see a stat that doesn't just show how many times a player scored off free kicks, but also how many times they forced the keeper into saves and how many times they hit the wall or CR7'ed it into the 15th row...
First name Juninho, Last name Pernambucano. Seriously this guy is madness.
He mastered the art of free kick. Left? Right? Bottom left? Below the goalkeeper's buttocks? Don't matter, he can put it anywhere he wants.
He mastered the art of free kick. Left? Right? Bottom left? Below the goalkeeper's buttocks? Don't matter, he can put it anywhere he wants.
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No. He is atrocious and has been for quite a few years.
Surprised to see no one say neymar. He is the best right now from close range.