Scoring from a freekick is a rare art. It takes more than power—it needs vision, precision, and nerves of steel. Among the many legends who have mastered it, these five players stand out with the most freekick goals ever recorded.
1. Juninho Pernambucano – 77 Goals
The undisputed freekick king. Juninho’s technique, especially his knuckleball style, baffled goalkeepers around the world. No one has matched his consistency or variety in set pieces.
2. Pelé – 70 Goals
The greatest of his era and one of the all-time icons. Pelé wasn’t just a scorer from open play; his ability to convert freekicks made him even deadlier.
3. Lionel Messi – 67 Goals
The magician is just 11 goals away from breaking Juninho’s record. But here’s the twist—time is not on his side. With Messi now in the final chapters of his career, catching Juninho may prove one mountain too high, even for him.
Still, what Messi has done is extraordinary—he became a freekick specialist later in his career and almost caught up with the all-time greats.
4. Ronaldinho – 66 Goals
A freekick from Ronnie? You never knew what to expect. Curl, dip, trick—it was art. Ronaldinho didn’t just score; he entertained.
5. Victor Legrottaglie – 66 Goals
Lesser known to younger fans, but a legend in his own right. Legrottaglie was an Argentinian genius, a set-piece master who dominated in his era.
Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t make the top 5. Despite his reputation and iconic knuckleball style, his freekick tally sits below these elite marksmen. While CR7 has scored some screamers, his conversion rate has dipped over the years.
Messi has the talent to break Juninho’s record. But can he find 11 more freekick goals before he retires? With fewer games, tougher defenses, and the ticking clock, this might be one milestone that even Leo leaves untouched. Because in football, not every race ends with a gold medal—even for the player whom half of the world consider as GOAT.
Read Also; Top 20 footballers with most free-kick goals
