Rivelino It's funny that this thread pops up now because there's an article in the last issue of CHAMPIONS in which Zico, Roberto Carlos, and a bunch of other famous free kick takers speak about their technique.
I don't know who is best, but the most memorable free kick ever scored belongs to Roberto Carlos in that friendly against France. Now that was insane!!
Mihilavoic is an abbhoration you needs his eyes burned out with a hot poker and then wear a Nazi flag in the middle of Harlem.. Pr!ck i hate him.
He would never adorn any poll I would ever make and if he did it would be most favourable type of death!
Er - well - I'm not exactly a fan of the bloke. But he is bloody good at free kicks. I can't stand that fat little cheating junkie scumbag Maradona but I can grudgingly acknowledge his football talents.
From the old days Arie Haan deserves a mention (some of you might remember him from the world cup in 1978) but today, most definitely and without a shadow of a doubt, the best free kick taker in the world is Pierre van Hooijdonck. He may not be as glamourous as the Beckhams and the Carloses of this world, but he's far more efficient. I in fact saw a stat somewhere comparing their score percentages from free kicks, P-Air was by far the best. I'll put up a link if I can find it.
Roberto Carlos by far. its hard to put that much power on it and keep it accurate. Hes awesome and a better field player than beckham
I presume this poll and thread is about those free kick takers who score directly, not those who flight the ball so perfectly onto the head (or foot) of a forward as to be a thing of beauty?
Direct free kicks. Indirect free kicks have far to many external factors for me to make a thread for them.
I would say he's one of the better ones today, and very few could match him in terms of power from such long distance. BUT, I think when he lines up to take a 30-40 yarders, now that is just being self-indulgent. Yeah sure he might get one of those in the goal, once in a while but in team would be a lot better if the ball of served into the penalty area. Why do they even let him take that.
I presonall think R.Carlos is an awful free kick taker who people remember for spectacular goals he scored almost by accident rather than for the 3957974357misses he has a season. His low hard free kick drives into the box are done because the deflections often result in a goal somewhere along the line. I think it's a very effective tactic for Real Madrid, but Carlos's FK's are awful, so unaccurate. Beckham Van Hooijdonk Figo Mihaljovic Del Piero Totti Henry Ronaldinho Are just handful of players far better than Carlos in Todays game for FK's
If you gave half the guys on this list todays balls to kick around they woud hit it harder than Roberto Carlos! With about 100x more accuracy, lol.
Koeman's free kick against England in the '94 World Cup qualifiers was masterful. I believe he'd just taken a rocket of a free kick but the ref ordered a retake because he hadn't blown the whistle. On the retake, with England expecting another blast, Koeman floated the ball brilliantly over the wall while the 'keeper just stood there in disbelief. I remeber letting out a big moan after that goal because A) it kept England out of USA '94 , and B) it was a stroke of genius.
I'd like to say Preki, but I think I'd be shot on these boards. Not the best ever, but Ronaldinho Gaucho is getting pretty good. Anybody think he'll be on that list in the future? Not only at the World Cup, but he's scored a few great free kick goals with Barcelona this year, often when they were most needed (late in the game).
Roberto Carlos is an amazing free kick taker, but it's inconsistant. Beckham can't bend it like he can if Roberto Carlos takes it perfect (which he rarely does) but Beckham consistantly puts an incredible bend on it, even if it is not as great as RCs, not to say that I'd take beckham over roberto carlos all-around (I would take RC hands down)