4) Wayne Rooney: Manchester United
Rooney’s ability on free-kicks has been underestimated over the years. His conversion rate may not be the best in the league at the moment but that is because of two valid reasons. Firstly, he was not always the first-choice player to take free-kicks. Initially, there was Cristiano Ronaldo and later there was Robin van Persie – both dead ball specialists.
Secondly, Rooney does not always go for goal. United did have plans for free-kicks and on many occasions, he would cleverly float the ball into the box to find a teammate.
But when he does go for goal, it can be a thing of beauty. While his explosive pace and stamina may have declined in recent years, his shot-taking ability has not. And there was no better way to break the club record than to score via a crucial free-kick in the dying minutes of a game.
Tied with Sir Bobby Charlton on 249 goals for the Red Devils, Rooney stepped up against Stoke City to score the equaliser in the 94th minute to make it 1-1. What looked like a cross into the six-yard went deceptively high and into the opposite corner past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Lee Grant.
In a period of decline at the club, Rooney was still able to conjure a moment of magic before returning to his boyhood club at the end of the season.
