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There are few sights more satisfying to watch on a football pitch than the ball flying into the back of the net from a direct free-kick. It's one of the more technically difficult skills to pull off. There are a lot of variables involved when it comes to direct free-kicks.
The distance to the goal, the size of the players that populate the defensive wall and the agility of the goalkeeper are all factors. That's why a free-kick taker has to be extremely precise with his technique. He should induce the right amount swerve, dip and power on the ball and place it ideally in one of the four corners.
The Premier League has seen some wonderful free-kick takers like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie and Gianfranco Zola, to name a few.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best free-kick takers in the Premier League right now.
Honorable mention: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best free-kick takers the Premier League has ever seen. Back when he was burgeoning into a world beater at Manchester United, Ronaldo was actively adding new skills to his already enviable bag of tricks.
Smashing balls into the top corner with incredible power and pace is one of the things the Portuguese international started being great at. His free-kick powers have waned in recent years but every once in a while, one does end up in the back of the net.
Ronaldo scored four free-kicks each in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 Premier League seasons for Manchester United. He is currently second in the pecking order of free-kick takers at Old Trafford.
#5 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes is a technically gifted footballer. He has been an excellent signing for Manchester United. For a long time, the Red Devils were without a player who could make things happen for them in the final third.
The Portuguese international has incredible vision and can pick passes very swiftly. What makes him more of a genuine attacking threat is his shooting ability. The Portuguese international is a great finisher and does not shy away from testing the goalkeeper from range.
Why would he? He is great at it and he is pretty good at direct free-kicks as well. The last time Fernandes sent one flying into the top corner from a free-kick was in a pre-season friendly against Everton earlier this summer.
He scored a stunning free-kick against Liverpool in the FA Cup last season and against Bournemouth in the Premier League in 2019-20.
#4 James Maddison (Leicester City)
Leicester City's creative attacking midfielder James Maddison hasn't been at his best in recent times. He packs plenty of flair and is nothing short of a joy to watch when he is on song.
Part of what makes Maddison an excellent footballer is his technical proficiency. He is excellent at manipulating the ball whether it be to play some sensational threaded through balls or to blast one into the top corner every now and then.
'Madders' scored a brilliant free-kick against Liverpool last season and we're expecting to see plenty more from him this time around. In the 2018-19 season, when he was at his best, he scored three goals from direct free-kicks.
#3 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Unlike most teams, Liverpool's main creative sources are their full-backs. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson dictate the tempo of games on a regular basis. Both are pacy campaigners who are immensely gifted in the technical department.
Alexander-Arnold in particular is an extremely technically refined player. The Englishman's passing range is astounding and his technique has often been likened to that of the legendary David Beckham.
Those lovely, in-swinging early crosses are not the only thing Alexander-Arnold has in common with Beckham, though. He is a pretty solid set-piece taker and has a knack for finding the back of the net from deadball situations.
#2 Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)
Marcos Alonso had almost become a peripheral figure at Chelsea under Frank Lampard. But the introduction of Thomas Tuchel changed everything for the Spaniard. Fortunately for Alonso, Tuchel operates with a three-man defence and uses wing-backs.
The 30-year-old is a wing-back who loves to attack with abandon. He is not great at dispensing his defensive duties but is excellent on the other side of the pitch. Alonso has great technique when it comes to free-kicks.
Every now and then, he curls one into the top corner before wheeling away in celebration. Alonso produced a special one in Chelsea's 3-0 win against Crystal Palace in the opening day of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
He is one of Chelsea's primary free-kick takers and given his prominence in the squad these days, there's every chance that his tally will increase.
#1 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Although all the other players on this list are pretty formidable from direct free-kicks, nobody even comes close to the consistency that James Ward-Prowse shows. The Southampton captain lining up to take a free-kick from about 20-30 yards out is a nightmarish sight for any goalkeeper.
Ward-Prowse has excellent technique and he regularly puts the right amount of power and curl into his shots. In the 2020-21 season alone, Ward-Prowse scored from four direct free-kicks.
The 26-year-old is one of the best from all kinds of deadball situations. His delivery from corners and long free-kicks are excellent as well.
