Ranking the 20 Greatest Free Kicks in Football History
Free kicks often bring a mix of hope and disappointment to fans worldwide. The anticipation builds as players step up, only for many shots to hit the wall or fly off target. Yet, occasionally, a free kick delivers a goal that remains etched in memory, like those by David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Our experts at FourFourTwo have gathered the finest free kicks ever scored, judging them on technical skill, the shot's impressiveness, and sometimes its significance in the match. Some brilliant strikes, such as Alan Shearer's against Manchester United in 2002, were excluded because they were team laid-offs rather than direct shots.
20. Dimitri Payet – West Ham vs Manchester United, 2016
Payet's strike from 30 yards showed exquisite bend, pace, and dip, rattling the post before going in. It was special also because it beat a prime David de Gea. Though West Ham lost the replay, this goal remains a classic.
19. Yohan Cabaye – Newcastle vs Manchester United, 2012
Cabaye’s curling free kick, aided by swirling winds at St James’ Park, crashed in off the bar from a longer range, edging out Payet’s effort.
18. Declan Rice – Arsenal vs Real Madrid, 2025
Rice stunned fans with two fantastic free kicks in a Champions League quarter-final. His first bent sharply past the wall; the second was an almost perfect "postage stamp" strike sealing Arsenal’s dominance.
17. Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal vs Spain, 2018
Ronaldo’s World Cup free kick helped seal a comeback 3-3 draw against Spain, marking his hat-trick with trademark slow steps and precision, leaving De Gea frozen.
16. Paul Gascoigne – Tottenham vs Arsenal, 1991
Gazza’s thunderbolt opened the scoring early in an FA Cup semi-final against champions Arsenal, flying into the top-right corner at Wembley, a true 90s football icon moment.
15. Neymar – Barcelona vs PSG, 2017
Neymar’s near-post free kick during the famous La Remontada chipped in to help Barcelona overturn a four-goal deficit late in the Champions League last-16 tie.
14. Alex – Chelsea vs Arsenal, 2010
Known more for silky skills, defender Alex surprised with powerful free kicks. His strike against Arsenal, taken unexpectedly from 30 yards, shocked everyone and found the net.
13. Juninho Pernambucano – Lyon vs Bayern Munich, 2003
Juninho, arguably the greatest free-kick specialist ever with 77 goals, used his knuckleball technique to beat Oliver Kahn from over 30 yards in a memorable UEFA clash.
12. Marcus Rashford – Manchester United vs Chelsea, 2019
Rashford’s shot swerved multiple times mid-air with a sharp dip, leaving goalkeeper Willy Caballero helpless in a stunning display of power and movement.
11. Maynor Figueroa – Wigan vs Stoke, 2009
The Honduran defender struck directly from the halfway line, catching the keeper off guard with perfect speed and placement, creating an unforgettable free kick.
10. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United vs Arsenal, 2009
From 40 yards out, Ronaldo unleashed a rocket at the Emirates, challenging even the commentator’s disbelief, ending with a spectacular goal despite goalkeeper Almunia’s scramble.
9. Ronaldinho – Brazil vs England, 2002
His 35-yard free kick fooled the English keeper who thought it was a cross. Ronaldinho’s venomous strike curled into the top corner, showcasing his cheeky brilliance.
8. James Ward-Prowse – Southampton vs Wolves, 2022
Ward-Prowse abandoned his usual curl and fired a knuckleball from 35 yards straight into the top corner, defying distance and angle limitations with pure accuracy.
7. David Beckham – England vs Greece, 2001
Beckham’s iconic free kick secured England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup, a goal remembered for its technique, timing, and celebration at Old Trafford.
6. Hakan Calhanoglu – Hamburg vs Borussia Dortmund, 2014
Calhanoglu’s goal started near the halfway circle and soared with such unusual trajectory that the Dortmund keeper didn’t set up a wall, yet was powerless to stop it.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United vs Portsmouth, 2008
Ronaldo scored one of the Premier League’s finest free kicks, combining incredible swerve and dip with confidence, making it a standout moment in his career.
4. Dimitri Payet – West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2016
Payet’s free kick in West Ham’s farewell to The Boleyn Ground was a masterpiece, using top spin to dip unexpectedly into the top corner, widely regarded as the Premier League’s best free kick.
3. Mohd Faiz Subri – Pulau Penang vs Pahang FA, 2016
A lesser-known Malaysian player, Faiz Subri won the FIFA Puskas Award for his free kick whose flight path was erratic and unpredictable, captivating global audiences.
2. Lionel Messi – Barcelona vs Liverpool, 2019
Messi’s 600th goal for Barcelona was a stunning free kick that put them 3-0 up in a Champions League semi-final, showing his unmatched ability and precision.
1. Roberto Carlos – France vs Brazil, 1997
Roberto Carlos’ infamous banana free kick is celebrated as the greatest ever. The ball curved wildly away from goal before bending back into the net, a feat of physics and skill.
