All-Time Free Kick Specialists

[hemariva]

I didn't do a poll, because I really have no clue as to who I would've put.

But who is the best ever at taking free-kicks and why? This aspect of the game is one of my favorites.

[JMMUSA8]

David Beckham

simple enough, if hes got a free kick 35 yards from goal, expect it on net, and side netting.

[paulo]

koeman, back in the day, was unstoppable. Hit balls so hard and fast. I don't think he *ever* missed a pk.

[giggs88]

pele- he could do anything.


beckham - great free kicks


roberto carlos - his goals from free kicks are great, but to many are of target.

diego forlan - if he doesn't go next season then it would be great if he took the free kicks, he is a great free kick taker, but not all-time

[condor11]

beckam is not even the best free kick tacker around today

assuncau and mighailovich are deadly from all over the place not just one spot

roberto carlos is not even top 10 he has power but accuracy is something he lacks

great free kick tackers of the past should include branco koeman didi among others

[giggs88]

beckham IS the best free kick taker today, and he too is deadly from all angles, even though he favours the right side.

[Redfoot]

Van Hooijdonk scores quite a few off free kicks every year.

[afgrijselijkheid]

of all-time...hmmm - hard to say because im sure we havent seen a lot of players work their magic but i'll try

already mentioned:
van hooijdonk
koeman
pele
mihajlovic(sp?)
becks

i'll add:
jairzinho
rai
julio cruz
preki
cruyff
stoichkov

[KingKewell]

roberto carlos has only made one great PK but it was truly remarkable

[Blueberry]

Michel Platini by a mile. I'm surprised no one mentioned him.

[Revelian]

Originally posted by condor11
beckam is not even the best free kick tacker around today

assuncau and mighailovich are deadly from all over the place not just one spot

roberto carlos is not even top 10 he has power but accuracy is something he lacks

great free kick tackers of the past should include branco koeman didi among others

Mate, if you really were interested in football, you would know that Beckham doesn't take them from one spot. Look at him against Greece before the World Cup - that was what is known as "Beckham Territory". Then look at his goals against Real Madrid and Everton. Both from a similar place - both balls ended up in different corners. There is no doubt in my mind that Beckham is the best free kick taker around today. However, in the past there have been better, by way of goals scored from free kicks. Rivelino was superb, as were Zico and Socrates. Del Piero, Plantini, Mijhalovich (sorry about the spelling), Stoichkov, Pearce, Shearer, Henry. All legends, but the best at the end of the day is not worth debating because no matter what anyone says, they can't take the favourite you have away from you - it's always a matter of opinion. Beckham, however, is the best in the world right now, and that goes for corners and crosses as well.

Revelian

[BadReligion]

David Beckham is the best. Roberto Carlos has occasionally flashes of free kick brilliance but most of his kicks are absolute crap and wind up in the second tier of the Bernebau.

[Belgian guy]

Zica, a Brazilian, no I'm not talking about Zico, Zica, he is said to be the greatest free kick taker of all time (I wouldn't know since his prime was somewhere in the 50s and 60s I think, so I never actually saw him play)

[Miestro]

all time greatest free kick taker would be Rivilino
I wouldn't say beckham is the greatest because free kick isn't natural to him he practice free kick thats why he is good but players like Rivilino, Ronaldinho Guacho, Roberto Carlos, even Zidane it is natural for them. they just don't practice free kick like beckham

[Jon Pall]

Whoa, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho don't practice free kicks? That is a pretty ignorant thing to say. Come on, I'll bet they have spent countless hours practicing taking kicks from set pieces.

[giggs88]

Originally posted by Miestro
all time greatest free kick taker would be Rivilino
I wouldn't say beckham is the greatest because free kick isn't natural to him he practice free kick thats why he is good but players like Rivilino, Ronaldinho Guacho, Roberto Carlos, even Zidane it is natural for them. they just don't practice free kick like beckham

HELLO. there is no such thing as being natural at free kicks. you dont get it the first time you do it. all players practice. roberto carlos doesn't practice? you must be kidding. go check out exclusive interviews at pepsifootball.co.uk when the videos are availible.

[comme]

Thiy difficult question but I am very surprised that Platini has hardly been mentioned.

Him, Zola, Mihailovic, are the top 3 to have played in Italy. Beckham or van Hooijdonk are the top 2 today.

[Blueberry]

Originally posted by comme
Thiy difficult question but I am very surprised that Platini has hardly been mentioned.

Him, Zola, Mihailovic, are the top 3 to have played in Italy. Beckham or van Hooijdonk are the top 2 today.


Absolutely. Platini scored dozens of free-kicks, probably more than any other player mentioned here. 12 of the 41 goals he scored for France (in 72 caps) were free-kicks goals.

[usscouse]

Eusebio of Portugal had to be one of the all time greats. His "Falling leaf" shot would give goalies fits. Most would think it was going high and wide...until it was in the net.

[Excape Goat]

Roberto carlos belongs to another catagory. He is nowhere near the other Free kick specialist mentioned here. However, his speciality is his range. No one can shoot liked he does in that range. If Beckham does not take free kick for Real Madrid, they can still use Zidane or Figo. But if it is 40 plus yards out, Roberto carlos is the only one in the world who can do it.