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#3 Toni Kroos
They say “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Real Madrid central midfielder Toni Kroos seems to live by that mantra. He does not rely on flashy skill moves or tries outrageous passes. Instead, he passes the ball around with unmatched precision, setting the tempo as he sees fit.
The German international signed for Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 from Bayern Munich and was an integral part of Real Madrid’s record-breaking Champions League three-peat. Thanks to his ability to pick out his teammates, he has been Real Madrid’s primary set-piece taker for the last seven years.
His corners are generally flat with a dash of curl, perfect for anyone who loves attacking the ball inside the area. Kroos formed a telepathic connection with his captain Sergio Ramos in 2016-17, helping the Spaniard score multiple last-gasp winners for Real Madrid.
Kroos is also quite a capable free-kick taker and scored the winner in the second Clasico of the 2020-21 La Liga season.
#2 Roberto Carlos
Real Madrid have always had a special, soft corner for attack-minded defenders. And Roberto Carlos, who played at the club between 1996 and 2007, was a left-back with the soul of a centre-forward.
It did not take much time for Los Blancos to fall in love with the Brazilian. His blistering pace down the left-hand channel, immeasurable stamina, and inhuman shooting ability made him one of a kind.
Thanks to his knack for long-range shooting and shot power, Carlos got himself promoted as a regular set-piece taker for Real Madrid. Over the course of his Real Madrid career, Carlos scored from 23 free-kick goals, which proved to be decisive in four La Liga matches.
Roberto Carlos’s successor, Marcelo is also a flamboyant player, but he never quite got around to mastering the art of set pieces.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid’s record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo has been the club's most influential set-piece taker in the 21st century. Not only was Ronaldo the Spanish giants' primary penalty taker for nine years, but the Portuguese was also their main free-kick taker.
Ronaldo’s free-kicks became infamously inconsistent down the road, but Real Madrid were lucky to see him score some screamers in his early days.
Ronaldo, who scored 451 goals for Real Madrid in 438 games, netted 32 direct free-kicks, with 12 of those being decisive strikes. Ronaldo was eerily dependable from penalties, scoring 79 penalties in nine seasons at Real Madrid.
