Top 10 Best Free-Kick Takers in the World (2025)

The ability to score directly from a free kick is one of the most valuable football skills. Whether it’s perfect curlers, thunderous knuckleballs, or pinpoint accuracy from distance, the best free-kick takers can change games in an instant. This is a list of the top ten active free-kick experts in the world.

10. Hulk – Atlético Mineiro and Brazil.

Hulk is recognised for overwhelming strength rather than elegance. His free kicks are frequently delivered with remarkable force, making goalkeepers struggle. His strikes, whether from long range or close to the goal, are surprising and often devastating.

9. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City and Belgium.

De Bruyne’s free-kick skill is similar to his passing: accurate, technically good, and difficult to stop. While he does not take all of Manchester City’s set-pieces due to the squad’s plethora of specialists, he has scored critical free-kick goals over the years, depending on placement more than raw force.

8. Ángel Di María, Benfica & Argentina

Di María’s left foot has provided many impressive free-kick goals throughout his career. His ability to blend curl with power makes him a risky choice in dead-ball situations. Though he is not always his team’s primary free-kick taker, he is capable of delivering when necessary.

7. Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United & Portugal

Fernandes, Manchester United’s key set-piece specialist, uses a free-kick technique that combines precision and power. His shots frequently have enough dip and curve to beat goalkeepers, providing him a significant threat from outside the box.

6. Neymar – Santos and Brazil.

Neymar is a finesse free-kick specialist who relies on accurate curl and deception rather than strength. He has scored vital set-piece goals for his club and nation, and his ability to bend the ball around the wall makes him a constant threat.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo – Al Nassr and Portugal.

Ronaldo’s knuckleball style was arguably one of the most feared in the sport. While his free-kick conversion rate has dropped in recent years, he can still score from distance because to his raw power and unpredictability. With nearly 60 career free-kick goals, his legacy as a set-piece expert is already established.

4. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool & England

Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool’s primary free-kick taker, and his technique is among the finest in the Premier League. His ability to create both power and swerve allows him to score from a variety of angles, making him a valuable asset to Liverpool’s attacking play.

3. James Ward-Prowse, West Ham United & England

Ward-Prowse has earned a reputation as one of contemporary football’s most dependable free kick takers. With 18 direct free-kick goals in the Premier League, he is second only to David Beckham all-time. His ability to get the ball over the wall with minimal backlift is unparalleled, making him a specialist from any position in the box.

2. Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan & Turkey)

Çalhanoğlu is one of Europe’s most technically skilled free kick takers. He has over 20 career free-kick goals, utilising a technique that combines precision, dip, and power. His ability to score from distance has made him one of Serie A’s most feared dead-ball specialists.

1. Lionel Messi, Inter Miami & Argentina

Messi is unquestionably the best free kick taker in international football today. He is the active player with the most free-kick goals, having scored over 65 in his career. He honed his skill to perfection. His ability to pick up corners, trick goalkeepers, and score from all angles makes him the most dangerous set-piece player. Whether at Barcelona, PSG, or Inter Miami, he continues to create magic with dead balls, solidifying his spot at the top of the list.

Notable mentions.
While these players did not make the top ten, they are among the best free-kick takers in the game today:

11. James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur & England) – A steady set-piece taker who can curl shots into the top corner.

12. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland) – More noted for his finishing inside the box, he has also scored some breathtaking free kicks with pinpoint accuracy.

13. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United & England) – A right-back with excellent dead-ball skill, best known for his 2018 World Cup free kick.

14. Cole Palmer (Chelsea & England) – A promising set-piece player with good skill and confidence.

15. Dani Parejo (Villarreal & Spain) – A La Liga veteran with a track record of scoring important free kicks.