The 20 Greatest Free Kicks Ever Scored in Football

Free kicks often build huge anticipation but rarely live up to the hype. The setup, the tension, and then—more often than not—the ball either hitting the wall or sailing well over the bar. Yet, on rare occasions, free kicks produce unforgettable goals etched in football history. Think of legends like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

At FourFourTwo, we gathered experts to pick the best free kicks ever witnessed worldwide, focusing on technical difficulty, the shot’s impressiveness, and sometimes the goal’s significance. We excluded goals that were simple lay-offs from teammates, which unfortunately ruled out some great strikes like Alan Shearer's 2002 effort against Manchester United.

The Full List of Top 20 Free Kicks

• 20. Dimitri Payet (West Ham vs Manchester United, 2016): A stunning 30-yard strike that curved and dipped, rattling off the post past a prime David de Gea.
• 19. Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United vs Manchester United, 2012): A powerful free kick that hit the bar amid swirling winds at St James’ Park.
• 18. Declan Rice (Arsenal vs Real Madrid, 2025): Twice in one Champions League game, Rice delivered exceptional free kicks, including a postage stamp precision strike in a quarter-final.
• 17. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal vs Spain, 2018): His iconic free kick sealed a comeback draw and a hat trick, leaving goalkeeper David de Gea frozen.
• 16. Paul Gascoigne (Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal, 1991): A thunderous strike early in the FA Cup semi-final, helping Tottenham overcome recent champions Arsenal.
• 15. Neymar (Barcelona vs PSG, 2017): In the legendary "La Remontada," Neymar’s near-post free kick helped Barcelona overturn a four-goal deficit.
• 14. Alex (Chelsea vs Arsenal, 2010): A rare Brazilian rocket from a defender, this 30-yard free kick stunned Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
• 13. Juninho Pernambucano (Lyon vs Bayern Munich, 2003): Master of the knuckleball, Juninho struck from over 30 yards to beat Oliver Kahn.
• 12. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United vs Chelsea, 2019): A fierce, dipping free kick that swerved multiple times, leaving goalkeeper Willy Caballero helpless.
• 11. Maynor Figueroa (Wigan vs Stoke, 2009): A quick-thinking free kick from inside his own half that caught the keeper off guard perfectly.
• 10. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United vs Arsenal, 2009): An audacious 40-yard free kick at the Emirates that stunned commentators and fans alike.
• 9. Ronaldinho (Brazil vs England, 2002): A cheeky, venomous strike from 35 yards that fooled goalkeeper David Seaman completely.
• 8. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton vs Wolves, 2022): Known for curlers, Ward-Prowse unleashed a 35-yard knuckleball that flew into the top corner.
• 7. David Beckham (England vs Greece, 2001): His last-gasp free kick secured World Cup qualification and restored his status as England’s golden boy.
• 6. Hakan Calhanoglu (Hamburg vs Borussia Dortmund, 2014): From near the halfway line, this shot confused everyone, including the keeper who didn’t even build a wall.
• 5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United vs Portsmouth, 2008): The perfect blend of swerve and dip, this strike is arguably the best with the distinctive yellow-purple Nike ball.
• 4. Dimitri Payet (West Ham vs Crystal Palace, 2016): Often called the greatest Premier League free kick ever, Payet’s shot dipped suddenly into the top corner.
• 3. Mohd Faiz Subri (Pulau Penang vs Pahang FA, 2016): A Malaysian Super League goal that amazed millions, winning the FIFA Puskas award for its bizarre flight path.
• 2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona vs Liverpool, 2019): Messi’s 600th Barcelona goal was a perfect free kick that helped put his team 3-0 up in a Champions League semi-final.
• 1. Roberto Carlos (France vs Brazil, 1997): The famous "banana" shot, bending wildly before nestling in the net, earning the top spot among all free kicks.

These goals represent moments when skill, audacity, and timing combined to produce something truly special on the pitch.