Few things in football come close to the satisfaction of a sweetly-hit free-kick.
There’s something quite beautiful about seeing the ball flash past a helpless keeper as fans and players alike watch on in a moment of brilliance.
To celebrate the divine art of the set-piece, we’ve counted down five of the most reverred dead-ball specialists to ever grace the game.
Roberto Carlos
The key to Roberto Carlos’ free-kick game was never consistency – it was beauty. Every single time the Brazilian hit the back of the net with one it was an absolute belter, and there’s perhaps no better representation of that then the scorcher against France back in 1997.
David Beckham
If there’s anyone out there who doesn’t believe practice makes perfect, go and talk to David Beckham. For hours on end the iconic Englishman stayed behind in training and honed his craft, to the point where people spoke about his free-kicks first and his celebrity second. Third, of course, comes the goal against Greece.
Alessandro Del Piero
The Juventus legend scored many goals throughout his career, but not enough people discuss his work in dead ball situations. The dip, the power, the splendour, everything was near enough perfect. Del Piero was so often in a class of his own, and the proof is in the pudding.
Michel Platini
Very few footballers have been able to make the game look like an art form more than Platini. From World Cup glory to European success there was an elegance to everything Platini did. Sure, the former UEFA president has his flaws, but his free-kick prowess still stands out as one of the most intriguing facets of his play.
Juninho
The mastery and versatility of Juninho’s free-kick skill is the stuff of legend. Honestly, if you offered out 90,000 tickets for a chance to see this man deliver 10 consecutive free kicks at Wembley Stadium, we can just about guarantee you’d sell the place out within hours.
Featured image credit: Getty