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#3 Victor Legrottaglie | Argentina | 66 goals
![Argentine legend Victor Legrottaglie [Image credits: voxpopuli.net.ar]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2020/08/4b97a-15983633253051-800.jpg)
While he may be one of the lesser-known players on this list, Argentina's Victor Legrottaglie enjoyed one of the most successful domestic careers of his era between 1953 and 1974. He spent the entirety of his playing career in his homeland with Gimnasia y Esgrima, and never seeked a move away, despite reported interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
Moving abroad for economic purposes wasn't considered to be an ideal option for many footballers at the time, although some such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer did so in the USA. New York Cosmos reportedly tried to recruit Legrottaglie, an offer that he declined.
The Argentine was renowned for his brilliant technique on the pitch, particularly when it came to set-pieces. Legrottaglie scored 66 direct free-kick goals in his career, making him the most prolific Argentine in history in this regard — over the likes of Diego Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Lionel Messi.
#2 Pele | Brazil | 70 goals
The name 'Pele' inevitably comes up whenever the greatest players, not just free-kick takers, of the sport are discussed. He played in an era that is now studied by sports historians as part of an epic generation of football, and his achievements are simply astonishing.
The Brazilian demi-god scored a breathtaking 757 official goals for club and country in 831 appearances over what was one of football's most celebrated careers. Pele played for over 20 years and has a list of accolades — both individual and for club and country — that make a very compelling case for him to be the greatest player of the sport. The now-79-year-old won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil, more than any player in history, and won his first one at 17 years and 249 days, which is another record.
The forward remains one of the most prolific players to have played the game and was incredibly talented when it came to free-kicks as well. Brazil's top scorer scored a breathtaking 70 goals from direct free-kicks throughout his career. Despite Pele's host of records, the one feat he couldn't achieve was becoming the most prolific Brazilian from free-kicks. That crown, unfortunately, belongs to another man.
#1 Juninho Pernambucano | Brazil | 77 goals
Juninho is regarded by ex-players, fans, and experts alike to be the greatest-ever free-kick taker in football history. The Brazilian came to be known for his mind-bending direct free-kicks that eventually became Juninho's trademark. After an illustrious spell in Brazil with Vasco de Gama, the midfielder joined Olympique Lyon in 2001, where he spent the most successful time of his career.
Juninho fired Lyon to a staggering seven successive league titles upon his arrival, establishing himself as the best set-piece taker in the world. After a couple of stints in the Middle East and the USA, Juninho ended his playing career in Brazil before returning to Lyon as the sporting director at the club. He appeared 40 times for his country, scoring six goals in the process.
The Les Gones legend scored 100 goals in 350 games for Lyon, and holds the record for the most number of goals scored from direct free-kicks. Juninho scored a total of 77 in his career, making him the most prolific player in history in this particular regard.
Whether it was a stunner from long range or a dipping effort from close range, the Brazilian has truly mastered the art of free-kicks, and inspired an entire generation of set-piece specialists.
One such player was one of the greatest midfield architects in modern times, Andrea Pirlo. In his autobiography 'I Think Therefore I Play', the Italian spoke specifically about how he was in awe of the Brazilian maestro, saying;
"During his time at Lyon, that man [Juninho] made the ball do some quite extraordinary things. He’d lay it on the ground, twist his body into a few strange shapes, take his run-up and score."
He continued,
"He never got it wrong. Never. I checked out his stats and realised it couldn’t just be chance. I studied him intently, collecting DVDs, even old photographs of games he’d played. And eventually I understood."
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