FIFA 18: No Messi, Ronaldo in top 5 freekick takers in the game

FIFA 18 is due to be released on the 29th of September and excitement amongst FIFA fans is sky high after EA Sports released the demo version of the game earlier this month. Users are hooked to the advanced gameplay features in the demo and are eagerly awaiting the release of the latest instalment.

Invariably, one of the most awaited features of every instalment is the updated free-kick taking technique which has become more realistic with each passing instalment. Also, every season produces a new crop of talented free-kick takers who make their presence felt on the pitch and are subsequently highly rated in the game's free-kick attributes. Such players end up becoming key differentials in tight FUT games which are often decided by moments of magic and individual brilliance.

FIFA 17's list of the best free-kick takers was topped by Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo who in spite of playing in the American MLS retained his dead-ball prowess. Is there a change in hierarchy this season, does Andrea Pirlo still retain his spot as the best free-kick taker in the game or has a new, younger footballer taken his place as the top dead-ball specialist in the game. Read on to find out.

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5) Dani Parejo - 90

Dani Parejo has been a part of the Valencia setup since 2011 after spending his formative years in the Real Madrid and Getafe squads. In his seven years at the Mestalla, the playmaker has developed a reputation for being an expert free-kick taker apart from being a more than capable midfield general. Last season, he even equalled Lionel Messi's tally of free-kicks scored and finished with double-digit goals for the campaign.

On the back of his stellar free-kick record, Parejo sees himself become the fifth best free-kick taker on FIFA 18 with an accuracy rating of 90, which puts him ahead of even Messi in the standings for the best free-kick taker in FIFA 18. This is despite the significant gap in the overall rating between the two with Messi being rated at 93 while Parejo is comparably lower rated at 82.

4) Miralem Pjanic - 91

Miralem Pjanic is Juventus' preferred dead ball specialist

Miralem Pjanic has effortlessly filled the Pirlo-shaped hole in the heart of the Juventus midfield not only with his playmaking and midfield play but also with unerring accuracy from dead-ball situations. Even before his transfer to the Old Lady from Roma, Pjanic had built up a reputation for scoring spectacular freekicks and was proclaimed to be the best free-kick taker in the world by Brazilian free-kick taking legend Juninho Pernambucano.

On FIFA 18, the Bosnian national has received a 91 rating for free-kicks after his exploits in the Serie A. The 91 rating sees him finish as the 4th best free-kick taker in the game and upcoming instalments of the game could see the 27-year-old climb even higher in the rankings as his prowess is fine-tuned by experience.

3) Dimitri Payet - 91

Dimitri Payet's West Ham stint propelled him to international recognition

Dimitri Payet's stay in the Premier League was short-lived but eventful. Starting off with a flurry of long-range goals and free-kicks he soon had the opposition trembling in trepidation whenever he lined up a shot from a dead ball. Like a whirlwind affair, his West Ham career ended as spectacularly as it had begun; he went on strike and was soon allowed to leave for home comforts to Ligue 1's Olympique Marseille.

Despite the backlash he received from the then Boleyn Ground faithful, one thing that was not in doubt was the 29-year old's free-kick ability. He seemed to be able to ping the ball into the goal at will and that has continued at Marseille. For this reason, FIFA 18 has given the Frenchman a 91 free-kick accuracy rating which combined with his other attributes sees him become the third best dead ball specialist in the game.

2) Hakan Calhanoglu - 93

Hakan Calhanoglu was the best free-kick taker in the Bundesliga before his move to Milan

Hakan Calhanoglu shot to fame for his free-kick ability during his time with Bayer Leverkusen. One moment that stands out from his time in Germany is the seemingly impossible, wickedly curling free-kick he scored from close to the halfway line against Borussia Dortmund. Calhanoglu has made a habit out of conjuring such moments, something which saw the 22-year-old score more than 11 free-kick goals last season.

The Turk's exemplary free-kick record means that he finishes as the second best free-kick taker on FIFA 18. He receives a 93 rating for his dead ball prowess on FIFA 18 which sees him maintain his position as the second best free-kick taker in the game from FIFA 17.

1) Andrea Pirlo - 93

Andrea Pirlo has aged, but that has not had affected his free-kick ability

Despite being a footballing senior citizen at 38 years of age, the Italian maestro's ability on the ball has not diminished. While his legs may not carry him around as easily as they once did, they still possess the ability to caress the ball wherever they need to. This is especially applicable to free-kicks and dead ball situations, where the Italian's ability has improved, if not diminished.

In spite of playing in the footballing retirement home known as the MLS, Pirlo is still banging in the goals from dead balls. His undiminished free- kick ability sees him receive a 93 rating in FIFA 18, retaining his spot as the number one free-kick taker on the FIFA series.