In soccer, free kicks are one of the major areas of debate, especially regarding rivals like Messi and Ronaldo. These two players have been fierce rivals on the field for 15 years. However, their performance in dead-ball situations isn’t as strong as other players like Ronaldinho, David Beckham, Pele, etc.
Messi and Ronaldo need more time and effort to surpass these players in scoring from free kicks. Messi has scored 65, and Ronaldo has scored 64 goals from free kicks. They need to play for a longer period if they want to be the best at scoring maximum free-kick goals and outperform these players.
These players have proven themselves to be exceptional in this specific aspect of soccer, having scored more free-kick goals than Messi and Ronaldo while playing for both club and country. You have to give them credit for this exceptional talent, and it’s a great honor as well. In this context, we’ll focus on players who have mastered the art of taking free kicks.
Today, we’ll explore the best free-kick specialists who have outscored Messi and Ronaldo in terms of free-kick goals.
David Beckham – 65
David Beckham is level with Messi at 65 free-kick goals, but one above Ronaldo. Beckham played beautiful football, which is why people all over the world admire him as one of the best soccer icons, especially for his skill in dead-ball situations. Many English players idolized him in their childhood and aspired to be like him.
James Ward-Prowse is one of the players who grew up idolizing the former England captain. Ward-Prowse is currently playing for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. In terms of free-kick goals, he is just one goal behind Beckham in the Premier League, but not in the overall tally. He would need to play for a longer period to surpass his idol. For Messi and Ronaldo, surpassing Beckham’s free-kick record isn’t as challenging; they only need to score a few more to overtake him.
Ronaldinho – 66
This Brazilian soccer star has surpassed Messi and Ronaldo in converting the most free kicks into goals. Messi played with Ronaldinho at Barcelona in the early stages of his career, where he received some free-kick training from him. However, Messi didn’t achieve the same free-kick success as his idol and teammate. Ronaldinho is one of those players who changed the game of soccer by developing new techniques and skills. He scored one more free-kick goal than Beckham, netting 66 free-kicks for club and country.
Victor Legrottaglie – 66
Legrottaglie is a joint all-time free-kick goalscorer with Ronaldinho. An Argentine footballer who played for several clubs between 1953 and 1976, he was never selected for the national team. He was famous for his free kicks as well as his corners. Club Gimnasia y Esgrima named Victor Legrottaglie the greatest idol in the club’s history. He died in 2024 at the age of 86.
Pele – 70
The three-time World Cup winner scored 70 goals on free kicks alone. He was the greatest footballer who played brilliantly in the late 50s and 70s. He scored in almost every game throughout his career and could hit from both feet.
If you want to know how he takes free kicks, you should follow his words of wisdom.
“Taking a free kick needs a certain cunning.” Pele
He said that if the free kick is taken from the left side, use your right foot, and if it’s from the right side, use your left foot. Check for gaps in the wall, shorter players, and the wind direction to score the goal.
Juninho Pernambucano – 77
Juninho Pernambucano topped the list for most goals scored from free kicks, surpassing even legends like Pelé. Though he was not as globally famous as Messi, Ronaldo, or Pelé, Juninho had an extraordinary ability to score from dead-ball situations, setting him apart in this specific aspect of soccer.
The Brazilian midfielder played a crucial role for Lyon, helping the team win seven out of eight Ligue 1 titles during his time there. His free-kick expertise often made the difference in tight games. While Messi and Ronaldo, at the peak of their careers, had a chance to break his record, matching Juninho’s free-kick tally remains a difficult feat even today.
