Most free kicks scored in football history: Where does Lionel Messi rank in the top 10 most dangerous set-piece takers ever?

Goals remain the heartbeat of the beautiful round leather game, though a strike from a free kick somehow carries a different kind of magic.

It is a moment that combines technique and precision, where a dead ball is driven past the wall of obstacles and beyond the goalkeeper’s reach, leaving fans in awe.

Only a handful of players truly master this craft, and it is no surprise that some of the greatest names in the sport rank highly among the game’s free-kick masters, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — who have battled each other for records throughout their glittering careers — once again in the thick of things.

Both being the only active players in the top 10, and with their careers already in the twilight phase, only time will tell if either can still climb to the very top of the list.

Bearing their current place among the game’s free-kick elite in mind, Sports Mole explores the question: Who has scored the most free kicks in football history?

Who has scored the most free kicks in football history?

10. Ronald Koeman - 60 (NED)

Years active: 17 (1980-1997)

Teams: Groningen, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Feyenoord, Netherlands

Free kicks scored: 60

The former Netherlands centre-back may be known to modern fans as the Dutch national team manager, but his goalscoring exploits are legendary.

Netting a staggering 239 times over the course of his career, Koeman fired home 60 free kicks, meaning that more than 25% of his goals came directly from set pieces.

His most famous strike came in the 1992 European Cup final, when an extra-time effort saw Barcelona beat Sampdoria to lift the trophy for the very first time.

9. Zico - 62 (BRA)

Years active: 21 (1971-1989 & 1991-1994)

Teams: Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers, Brazil

Free kicks scored: 62

One of the most iconic players ever, two-time world player of the year Zico scored an impressive 240 goals throughout a more than 20-year playing career for Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers and the Brazilian national team.

The former Japan manager netted 48 of those strikes in his 71 international appearances, making him the fifth-highest goalscorer in Brazil's history.

Throughout his storied time on the pitch, Zico is said to have fired home more than 100 free kicks, but considering that only 62 were recorded in registered matches, he sits at number nine on the list.

8. Diego Maradona - 62 (ARG)

Years active: 20 (1976-1994 & 1995-1997)

Teams: Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, Newell's Old Boys, Argentina

Free kicks scored: 62

Fans of football young and old alike know the name Diego Maradona is synonymous with football, and the legendary Argentine playmaker was also a serious threat from free kicks.

Across almost 600 appearances for club and country, he scored a remarkable 293 goals, and it is easy to see why his services were bough for world record fees on two separate occasions.

The World Cup winner hit the back of the net from free kicks on 62 occasions, and his technique is said to have inspired fellow-countryman Lionel Messi.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo - 64 (POR)

Years active: 23 (2002 - present)

Teams: Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, Portugal

Free kicks scored: 64

Cristiano Ronaldo is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace a football pitch, and his goalscoring record speaks for itself.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star is closing in on a shocking 1000 goals over the course of his trophy-laden career, and he is still going strong in the Saudi Pro League in 2025.

As for free kicks, the Portuguese hitman's knuckle-ball technique is world-renowned, and has led to an impressive haul of 64 goals directly from set-pieces.

6. David Beckham - 65 (ENG)

Years active: 21 (1992-2013)

Teams: Manchester United, Preston North End (loan), Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan (loan), Paris Saint-Germain, England

Free kicks scored: 65

Perhaps more famous for his off-field work these days, the iconic David Beckham's free kicks are so famous that they spawned a feature film.

Despite bending them for a host of classic clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan throughout his career, his most iconic dead-ball moment came for England, when he fired home a stoppage-time curler to send his country to the 2002 World Cup.

All-in-all, Beckham hit the back of the net with 65 of his free kicks, making him the most prolific taker from Europe.

5. Ronaldinho - 66 (BRA)

Years active: 17 (1998-2015)

Teams: Gremio, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan, Flamengo, Atletico Mineiro, Queretaro, Fluminense, Brazil

Free kicks scored: 66

Ronaldinho is remembered fondly by football fans around the world as the trickster who entertained the masses, and his exceptional record from free kicks adds to his legacy.

One of his more famous 66 set-piece goals came in the 2002 World Cup against England, when his strike caught out goalkeeper David Seaman.

The Brazil legend remarked that while he meant to shoot from the unusual angle, the ball did not quite go where he had intended, but he assured fans that it was his desire to shoot that counts.

4. Victor Legrottagile - 66 (ARG)

Years active: 20 (1953-1973)

Teams: Gimnasia y Esgrima, Chacarita Juniors, Argentino, Juventud Alianza, Independiente Rivadavia,

Free kicks scored: 66

Argentine set-piece specialist Victor Legrottagile enjoyed a lengthy 20 seasons during his playing career, transferring between teams in his home country but spending a major chunk of his days with Gimnasia y Esgrima.

The midfielder was renowned for scoring from both free kicks and corners, netting 66 of the former and a shocking 12 of the latter, catching goalkeepers off-guard on a regular basis.

While Legrottagile did not leave Argentina during his time on the pitch, his record from set pieces will be remembered the world over.

3. Lionel Messi - 69 (ARG)

Years active: 25 (2003 - present)

Teams: Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, Argentina

Free kicks scored: 69

Generally considered to be the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi's footballing talents are so vast that his free kicks are not the first thing that fans think of despite him sitting in the top three of this list.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner scored 50 free kicks for Barcelona alone, and has racked up an impressive 69 to date including his time with PSG, Inter Miami and the Argentinian national team.

Just a few shy of top spot, it would be foolish to rule Messi out of breaking another record before he finally hangs his boots up for good.

2. Pele - 70 (BRA)

Years active: 21 (1956-1977)

Teams: Santos, New York Cosmos, Brazil

Free kicks scored: 70

For an older generation of football fan, Pele represents the best that football has to offer; pace, skills, goals, assists, the Brazil legend had it all.

Aside from his mesmerising dribbling, the icon boasted a record of 683 goals from 639 appearances for Santos, New York Cosmos and his national side.

On top of such an incredible goal return, Pele was one of the greatest set-piece takers of all time, finding the back of the net with 70 free kicks.

1. Juninho Pernambucano - 77 (BRA)

Years active: 28 (1995-2023)

Teams: Sport Recife, Vasco da Gama, Lyon, Al-Gharafa, New York Red Bulls, Brazil

Free kicks scored: 77

Despite the competition on this list, particularly from his fellow Brazilians, Juninho Pernambucano takes the top spot.

Clips of the former Lyon man's free kicks regularly make the rounds on social media, and there are plenty for fans to share given that he netted 77 of them during his playing days.

However, it is still shocking to learn that of Juninho's 100 goals for Lyon across his eight-year stint with the French club, 44 came directly from free kicks.