Juninho Pernambucano (Greatest Free Kick taker ever?)

[Swordsman]

Question as above. up for debates.

Another question has he ever scored from open play ? in my memories, the goals he scored are from free kicks.

 

[GifLord]

Probably among the best if not the best. There was also Marcelinho Carioca who had an insane free kick rate.

 

[Swordsman]

He can score free kicks from ridiculously far distance and all sort of angles. Think he is the OG knuckleball

 

[Lay]

Yes, the greatest ever.

I don't actually know what sort of midfielder he was though. I always thought he was invisible during games until a freekick came about. But I didn't watch Lyon that intently.

 

[Baneofthegame]

In my opinion yes.

 

[Swordsman]

has he scored goals from open play ? I would really like to know.

 

[Swordsman]

Yes, the greatest ever.

I don't actually know what sort of midfielder he was though. I always thought he was invisible during games until a freekick came about. But I didn't watch Lyon that intently.

during his Lyon playing days, Lyon dominated Ligue 1, way before PSG was bought by Qatar and came into the picture.

 

[Lay]

during his Lyon playing days, Lyon dominated Ligue 1, way before PSG was bought by Qatar and came into the picture.

I'm aware. 7 titles in a row whilst being a difficult team to beat in Europe.

 

[Demyanenko_square_jaw]

has he scored goals from open play ? I would really like to know.

he was a midfielder. It would be a lot more unusual if he didn't score from open play.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

Yes, the best ever but Messi went on a run a few years ago where he looked like he was scoring equally for fun. Other greats are the likes of Platini, Maradona, Beckham. But for variety and range, hard to beat Juninho.

 

[JB08]

has he scored goals from open play ? I would really like to know.

Yes? Of course he has.

 

[We need an rvn]

Never heard of the guy but he played during my peak ‘tv football watching days’ before we had kids so surprised at this.

some amazing YouTube videos of those free kicks and hard to argue given the range of skill on display - close range and curl / dip - distance and power etc.

 

[2mufc0]

Probably.

Zico was pretty amazing too.

 

[P-Ro]

The Brazilian Ward-Prowse

 

[Amar__]

Never heard of the guy but he played during my peak ‘tv football watching days’ before we had kids so surprised at this.

some amazing YouTube videos of those free kicks and hard to argue given the range of skill on display - close range and curl / dip - distance and power etc.

Never heard of Juninho? It wasn't that long tbf.

 

[Swordsman]

The Brazilian Ward-Prowse

ward prowse ? why he was compared to ward prowse ?

 

[redshaw]

Sinisa Mihajlovic is my favourite

 

[Cassanata99]

He is the best freekick taker of all time, imo, due to the variety of techniques he employed.

As a midfielder, he was quality. Technically gifted, good touch, dribbling and passing. He was the heart of the Olympique Lyonnais side of the 00's. He was a deadly shooter from open play as well - owing to his knuckleball technique.

Just go on YouTube and search 'Juninho Pernambucano - More Than Free Kicks'

 

[Scarecrow]

He has my vote

 

[Lay]

Sinsa Mihajlovic is my favourite

Scored a hattrick of free kicks

 

[Kasper]

This reminds me ...
what happened to Calhanoglu? A couple of years ago he was for me the closest to Juninhos trajectory, had a fantastic rate at Leverkusen, but after going to Italy I didn't hear a lot from him regarding free kicks. Just checked, only 4 more since playing for AC/Inter Milan.

 

[Carolina Red]

Another question has he ever scored from open play ?

has he scored goals from open play ? I would really like to know.

He scored 77 free kick goals out of 198 career goals

 

[Swordsman]

He scored 77 free kick goals out of 198 career goals

Now i need to watch the rest of his 121 goals.

 

[Sayros]

There is zero doubts in my mind that he is. Huge variety in his free-kicks, from all angles, different strike points, and the consistency in creating danger/goals from them. He is the best for me.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Nope, it's Becks.

 

[Morty_]

I'm sure there are "technically" better free kick takers from certain distances/positions, but he was dangerous from every position, but the sheer variety of his free-kicks i don't think can be matched.

 

[kouroux]

He can score free kicks from ridiculously far distance and all sort of angles. Think he is the OG knuckleball

And all sorts of techniques, he is the GOAT

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

FKs GOAT.

But he was also a fine footballer, I remember his Lyon days.

 

[LiquidSnake]

Like said before he was the one who mastered all type of FK from every distance and every angles. I litteraly never saw him had a shit free kick, always a dangerous shot or at least the shot was decent but the wall did a good job.

He was a very good football player. I remember when he came to Lyon in 2001, he was a nice player but a bit of "free kick mercant" but after his 1 or 2 first seasons, he really was a very good UCL level player onto 2007 then he faded a bit.

While never reaching his level, today the player I would likened him to the most, in his style of play, would be Toni Kroos.

 

[stevoc]

Probably the best free kick taker but not the best corner kick taker ever. That's still Phil Jones.

 

[Piratesoup]

Freekick goat, no two ways about it. And he also seems to have a very good outlook on life and his "achievements" as a professional athlete.

 

[JPRouve]

Yes, the greatest ever.

I don't actually know what sort of midfielder he was though. I always thought he was invisible during games until a freekick came about. But I didn't watch Lyon that intently.

He was like Bruno but better in possession and a cleaner technique.

 

[Murder on Zidanes Floor]

They're all from mental distances. Remember early YT in 140p resolution, seeing these goals go in from near the half way line. Unreal!

 

[DWelbz19]

Who is the best free kick taker in Europe these days? JWP? Messi? Is there anyone else up there?

 

[Chelsea is MAD]

I really do think he is the best freekick taker of all time. There was a goalkeeper that was a specialist for free kicks, cant recall his name though. I think he scored 50 free kick goals as a goalkeeper. I find that pretty cool.

 

[Raoul]

Definitely the best imo

 

[hellhunter]

Who is the best free kick taker in Europe these days? JWP? Messi? Is there anyone else up there?

Trippier and De Bruyne also have great freekicks in them. Don't know the numbers, but would lean JWP

 

[matherto]

The one he scored against Bayern in 2002-03 is about as good as it gets

 

[MUFC OK]

Beckham better for me.

 

[Matt007a]

Juninho had more variety and range in his free kicks than Beckham. They're probably similar in terms of accuracy but Juninho could shoot from areas where Beckham would have to cross or pass it.