World Football: Ranking the 15 Best Free Kick Takers of This Era

Free kicks are one of the best ways to score a goal in football. Curving, dipping and power are all essential parts in the creation of the perfect free kick.

I won't waste time talking about them so here it is, the 15 best free kick takers the world has ever seen.

Remember, please do not hesitate to leave your opinion in the comments section below.

Enjoy!

Age: 27

Current Club: Inter Milan

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Nationality: Dutch

Sneijder has proved to be not only a master of the midfield, but an excellent free kick taker as well. 

His pinpoint accuracy is what gives keepers such a difficult time. As demonstrated in the video above, he can curve and dip the ball to his liking. 

The Dutch international has become the driving force behind the Netherlands' international success, as well as Inter Milan's past success. 

Age: 39

Current Club: Retired

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: French

The best French footballer ever can also kick an awesome free kick. 

While Zizou is much better technically than most players higher than him on this list, he is not as good at free kicks. Nevertheless, he was able to take jaw-dropping strikes.

Too bad his career ended the way it did. 

Age: 27

Current Club: FC Bayern Munich

Position: Winger

Nationality: Dutch

Arguably the best winger in the world, Robben has excelled since his move from Chelsea to Bayern Munich.

Better known for his beautiful crosses, the Dutch international can also place the ball past the keeper during set pieces. Any team that has him will have an edge over their opponents.

Age: 33

Current Club: Yokohama F. Marinos

Position: Midifielder

Nationality: Japanese

Many may not know this player, but I assure you, he is quite amazing. In this Champions League matchup, Manchester United vs Celtic, Nakamura, playing for Celtic, demonstrated some of his finest skills. He measured his run up perfectly, and put the ball exactly where he wanted.

He left the United keeper standing, watching the ball as it soared past him into the back of the net.

In the second goal, he left the keeper making a diving attempt to save another beautiful free kick.

(To view the second goal, skip to 1:48 in the video).

Age: 28

Current Club: Tottenham

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Nationality: Dutch

This quick and agile attacking midfielder can put fear into any keeper's heart when given a free kick.

It might turn out to be the buy of the year for Tottenham, who secured Van der Vaart from Real Madrid for only 8 million pounds. 

A rapidly increasing Tottenham are eager to bring this free kick phenomenon to the EPL. Since his move to Tottenham, he has become a prolific goal scorer.

Here is a video of one of his nicer free kicks for Real Madrid. 

Age: 33

Current Club: Boca Juniors

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: Argentinian 

Another amazing midfielder. 

He will be mostly remembered for his time spent at Villareal between 2003 and 2007, but he sure did score some amazing goals while wearing the Argentinian jersey.

This is just one example of his amazing ability during set pieces. Not only did he give his team an edge with his ability to kick free kicks, but was also able to dictate the speed of games by controlling the flow of the ball.

Age: 31

Current Club: Liverpool

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: English

While an aging Gerrard is slowly declining in form and ability, we can always remember how amazing he was at set pieces. 

He is best known for his powerful and precise strikes from outside the 18-yard box. His ability to make the ball dip or curve leaves keepers and defenders alike wonder, "how did the ball get to the back of the net?"

Here is a video of some of Gerrard's best free kicks ever.

Age: 32

Current Club: Inter Milan

Position: Striker

Nationality: Uruguayan

One of the breakout players during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he has thrived as a prolific goal scorer and an amazing free kick taker.

After a summer move to Inter Milan from Atletico Madrid, he has not been able to show his true form. Yet when he played for Madrid, he was amazing, scoring left and right in almost every match.

It may be surprising to see him this high on the list, but his control on the ball, whether he is kicking or dribbling, is extraordinary. 

In the video, it shows the pure power and finesse of his strikes. Not only was it almost impossible to save, it was during a crucial match against Ghana.

Age: 26

Current Club: Dynamo Kyiv

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Nationality: Ukrainian (Born in Russia, but plays for Ukraine under FIFA rules.)

One of the best free-kick specialists in all of Europe, Aliyev is one amazing player.

While many fans of the EPL, La Liga and Serie A have not heard of him, he is well known all across eastern Europe. The power he puts into his free kicks is matched by only the best.

He is not a prolific goal scorer internationally, but he can show the world just what he can do when given a set piece.

Age: 37

Current Club: Juventus

Position: Second Striker

Nationality: Italian

A true veteran of the beautiful game, Del Piero has become a legendary free kick taker. 

He has won numerous awards, the most prestigious being the World Cup in 2006.

While he can scare any defender standing in his way on the attack, he can also terrify keepers during set pieces. He has become an expert at the art of free kick taking.

Age: 31

Current Club: Flamengo

Position: Attacking Midfielder / Forward

Nationality: Brazilian

While, like many of the players mentioned in this article, Ronaldinho is on the decline of his career, he can still kick an amazing free kick.

The tricky genius that everyone loved to watch was, and is, an incredible set piece master. He still deserves respect and admiration for his incredible skill.

He is one of the most amazing players ever.

Age: 38

Current Club: Anzhi Makhachkala

Position: Left Back

Nationality: Brazilian

Best...curve...ever. 

Carlos is probably best known for his incredible ability to curve the ball outside and inside. 

I will let the video speak for itself.

Age: 26

Current Club: Real Madrid

Position: Winger

Nationality: Portuguese

Ronaldo is arguably the best player on the planet.

His dribbling skills are matched only by those of Messi's, and his speed and form is top-class.

Yet he is well known for his ability to kick an amazing free kick. Bending, curving, dipping or power shots. You name it, and Ronaldo has done it in a free kick.

Age: 36

Current Club: L.A. Galaxy

Position: Midfielder

Nationality: English

Bend it like Beckham.

This is probably the most iconic English goal in a decade. The praying English fans and players alike were hoping Beckham could pull off a goal. 

And he did. He scored one of the best goals ever.

The keeper was left standing, staring at where the ball was.

Age: 36

Current Club: Vasco de Gama

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Nationality: Brazilian

Enter, the master of the free kick.

While his playing skills may not have been as good as others on this list, his set piece skills surpass them. He is best known for his time spent at Lyon.

If the video above is not enough evidence to prove he is the best keeper in the world, just ask keepers he has played against. Many of them are still wondering how he got the ball to move that way.

I hope you enjoyed the article!

Be sure to check out World's Finest Starting XI.

Also, check out one of the best world football writers on B/R, Rohan Subra.