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Top 20 Greatest Free Kicks in Football History

Free kicks often spark hope in football fans, yet more often than not they result in a dull miss or a blocked shot. Still, occasionally a free kick produces a goal so memorable it becomes legendary. Names like Beckham and Ronaldo come to mind as masters of this art.

At FourFourTwo, our panel selected the finest free kicks ever witnessed, judging them by technical skill, visual impact, and sometimes their importance in the game. We excluded goals assisted by teammates, meaning some brilliant strikes didn’t qualify.

Here’s our countdown of the best free kicks from recent times and beyond:

  • 20. Dimitri Payet – West Ham vs Manchester United, 2016: From 30 yards out, Payet’s curling strike beat David de Gea and hit the post before going in, showcasing bend, pace, and dip.
  • 19. Yohan Cabaye – Newcastle vs Manchester United, 2012: A powerful free kick that curled off the crossbar into the net at St James’ Park, aided by swirling winds.
  • 18. Declan Rice – Arsenal vs Real Madrid, 2025: Rice scored two stunning free kicks in one Champions League game, including an impeccable ‘postage stamp’ finish against Real Madrid.
  • 17. Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal vs Spain, 2018 World Cup: Ronaldo’s precise free kick sealed a 3-3 comeback and earned him a hat-trick, stunning goalkeeper David de Gea.
  • 16. Paul Gascoigne – Tottenham vs Arsenal, 1991: Gazza’s thunderous strike in the FA Cup semi-final rocketed into the top corner, helping Tottenham reach the final.
  • 15. Neymar – Barcelona vs PSG, 2017: In the famous La Remontada, Neymar’s near-post free kick energized Barcelona’s incredible comeback in the Champions League.
  • 14. Alex – Chelsea vs Arsenal, 2010: Known for his fierce shots, Alex blasted a 30-yard rocket past Arsenal’s wall, surprising many with a defender’s power.
  • 13. Juninho Pernambucano – Lyon vs Bayern Munich, 2003: Master of the knuckleball, Juninho’s strike from over 30 yards fooled Oliver Kahn and remains iconic.
  • 12. Marcus Rashford – Manchester United vs Chelsea, 2019: Rashford’s free kick swerved multiple times before dipping sharply, leaving the keeper helpless at Stamford Bridge.
  • 11. Maynor Figueroa – Wigan vs Stoke, 2009: Figueroa caught the keeper off guard with a quick free kick from the halfway line that flew straight into the net.
  • 10. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United vs Arsenal, 2009: A daring 40-yard free kick that flew with pace and precision, defying expectations at the Emirates Stadium.
  • 9. Ronaldinho – Brazil vs England, 2002: His 35-yard shot fooled goalkeeper David Seaman, soaring over him into the top corner during the World Cup.
  • 8. James Ward-Prowse – Southampton vs Wolves, 2022: Ward-Prowse abandoned his usual curl, firing a 35-yard knuckleball straight into the top corner with unstoppable power.
  • 7. David Beckham – England vs Greece, 2001: Beckham’s last-minute free kick at Old Trafford secured World Cup qualification and is remembered for his trademark technique.
  • 6. Hakan Calhanoglu – Hamburg vs Borussia Dortmund, 2014: From nearly midfield, Calhanoglu’s shot soared over the wall and surprised the keeper with its bizarre trajectory.
  • 5. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United vs Portsmouth, 2008: One of Ronaldo’s finest, this free kick combined incredible swerve and dip using the distinctive yellow-purple Nike ball.
  • 4. Dimitri Payet – West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2016: Considered the Premier League’s greatest free kick, Payet’s strike bent sharply down into the top corner in The Boleyn Ground’s farewell season.
  • 3. Mohd Faiz Subri – Pulau Penang vs Pahang FA, 2016: This Malaysian Super League free kick shocked viewers worldwide with its unpredictable flight, earning Faiz the FIFA Puskas award.
  • 2. Lionel Messi – Barcelona vs Liverpool, 2019: Messi’s 600th Barca goal was a perfect curled free kick that put Barcelona 3-0 up in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
  • 1. Roberto Carlos – France vs Brazil, 1997: The greatest trivela ever, Carlos’ insane banana curve left spectators stunned as it seemed to defy physics en route to the net.

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