Big Question: Which Players are the best at Free Kicks?
We read this article yesterday in which Andriy Shevchenko says that Juninho is better at free kicks than Ronaldinho. To us, that is like comparing chocolate and beer. Both are great in their unique way. But it did get the wheels turning in that dusty space called our brain and we started putting together a list of the World Cup players who we think are the best at taking free kicks. The list is not all encompassing, but these are the guys we’d want taking our team’s free kicks.
Ronaldinho – What keeper in his right mind would like seeing this guy line up for a free kick within scoring range?
Andrea Pirlo – The Italian free kick specialist apprenticed under Roberto Baggio and might just be better than his master.
Juninho – The Brazilian’s free kicks are nasty, nasty good. If he gets enough minutes this summer he could produce one of the goals of the tournament.
David Beckham – Becks still has it when it comes to free kicks. Rumor has it the movie was going to be called Bend it Like Bob, but after seeing the way I kick they decided to include Mr. Posh in the title instead.
Shunsuke Nakamura – Playing for Japan and Celtic, Nakamura has shown that he can make the ball do some crazy things.
Juan Román Riquelme – The Argentine is a creative force on the ball and on free kicks.
Agree or disagree, let us know with your comments. You can also send your Big Question to bob [at] worldcupblog.org and we might just take a stab at answering it.
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Comments
By Tomislav Chagall | March 28th, 2006 at 5:42 am 
darijo srna. and augustine okocha, of course (why don’t they do some sort of free-kick tournament like they do with the slam dunk contests? that would be something).
Posted from 
Germany
By Euler | March 28th, 2006 at 7:19 am After Ronaldinho did what he did against England in 2002 he really earned his place in any free kick shooter list.
I would add Roberto Carlos powerful blow to the list. I remember him hitting the ball so hard that everyone thought the ball would go far from the goal, but it made a supernatural turn, as gravity was distorted over the field. The goalkeeper had that huge question mark over his head as a cartoon character.
I don’t remember where it was but I know that after that goal he got an advertising piece for TV illustrating his free kick power.
By Greekfreak | March 28th, 2006 at 8:24 am No list would be complete without the great Vassilios Tsartas.
One of the laziest bastards to ever walk out on a pitch (and I do mean WALK), but two magical feet when it came down to it.
Posted from 
Republic Of Korea
By soze | March 28th, 2006 at 10:39 am The Roberto Carlos free kick in question was against France in 1997. Here is a link to the shot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AdqAD_19VM&eurl=
Incredible.
Even though Beckham has as of late been very innefective in the pitch, I feel he is still the best free kick specialist out there. In his hayday with ManU, that man could have scored a free kick from the half line. Now he has to work on his penalty shots.
Posted from 
Canada
By Luis | March 28th, 2006 at 10:49 am How about up and coming free kick talent? C. Ronaldo can whack a good bender.
Posted from 
United States
By soze | March 28th, 2006 at 11:04 am Naah, he should keep focusing on his crossovers…still hasn’t got them down pat.
Posted from Canada
By Luis | March 28th, 2006 at 12:37 pm Man U doesn’t mind his x overs.
Posted from United States
By Chris | March 28th, 2006 at 12:39 pm Thierry Henry takes a great freekick, but he probably won’t get a chance in the World Cup with Zidane hogging them all for France.
By Zidane | March 28th, 2006 at 9:40 pm Man wat are you guyz talkin about,,, beckham suxzz hardcore and wat u talkin abt zidane hoggin,, he aint no hogger ,, he got best player award three times bud he is ill at free kicks too …see him play first..
Posted from Canada
By Joeg | April 9th, 2006 at 9:57 am Has to be Naka. Carlos over-rated – rarely scores.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By john john | April 18th, 2006 at 5:25 pm RIVALDO NO DOUBT IN MA MIND THE BEST FREEKICK TAKER AF ALL TIME.
Posted from United Kingdom
By malkas | June 14th, 2006 at 12:08 am Rivaldo is one of the best freekick takers ever!
VIVA RIBO!!!!
HE COULD STILL PLAY AT THE SELECAO!ROBINHO
By #10 Rivaldo | July 6th, 2006 at 11:38 pm Rivaldo is the best!
Posted from 
Norway
By gassan | July 9th, 2006 at 1:09 pm i dont like david beckham but i believe that he is the greatest free kick taker of all time. and remember one thing else that zidan is the gretest player of all time.
Posted from 
India
By shane | August 10th, 2006 at 9:33 am Juninho of Lyon & Brazil is the best by a mile, Ronhaldino dosent even come close to him, these clips prove it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsqMICg9TjE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpGqKowzr70
^ best free-kick ever scored
Posted from 
Ireland
By Marcel | April 28th, 2007 at 11:31 am 1. Juninho (Hard and precise)
2. Nakamura (Very precise and effective curling)
3. Beckham (Precise)
Posted from 
Netherlands
By Aleksandar | July 7th, 2007 at 7:40 pm How can anybody make a list of the best freekicks takers and do not pu Sinisa Mihajlovic???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Posted from 
Serbia And Montenegro
By Aleksandar | July 7th, 2007 at 7:40 pm How can anybody make a list of the best freekicks takers and do not put Sinisa Mihajlovic???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Posted from Serbia And Montenegro
By Aleksandar | July 7th, 2007 at 7:40 pm How can anybody make a list of the best freekicks takers and do not put Sinisa Mihajlovic??????????????????????
Posted from Serbia And Montenegro
By reaper | October 6th, 2007 at 2:48 pm Tsiartas was the best ever. Like GreekFreak says, anyone who watches football properly knows he was the best:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VKHEDTtVsps
Posted from United States
By Steve | December 20th, 2007 at 4:17 pm Beckham?? Carlos?? No other free kick like this – still rising after 35 yards. This one broke through the net and hit a small boy on his head
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1XysTzt–ik
Posted from United Kingdom
By Psycho is our leader | December 20th, 2007 at 4:20 pm Beckham?? Carlos?? No other free kick like this – still rising after 35 yards. This one broke through the net and hit a small boy on his head
http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=metgod
Posted from United Kingdom
By Nakakilljunin | January 9th, 2008 at 8:29 am No ones better than nakamura shunsuke.. He can make a crazy curl over a corner post.. He shot are accurate but unlikely its less power.. Unlikely ronaldinho he has many missing freekick goal than he fk goal.. If Juninho he shot accurate but not nice to see.. This is sucks=c.Ronaldo.. He cant do freekick.. Even when he is 30 or 33 hes still poor dont judge him here he cant do magic in fk.. Nakamura vs ronaldinho,beckham,del piero,juninho and c.Ronaldo??Nakamura win.. No one can do magic curl like him.. He can kill u..
Posted from Germany
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