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A set-piece is one of the most important things in football. A brilliantly worked free-kick or a well-taken corner can often be the difference between a win and a loss. Over the years, we have had a number of free-kick and set-piece specialists. Juninho, Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are just some of the players who mastered the art of striking a dead ball.
In the current generation as well, we have some real masters of the art. While some of the best players in the world feature on this list, there are also a couple of lesser known players as well. Without much ado, let us take a look into the top 10 set-piece takers in Europe at the moment:
Note: Set-pieces include corners as well as free-kicks.
#10 Emil Forsberg
25-year-old Swedish winger Emil Forsberg has been turning heads with his brilliant performances for RB Leipzig in the past 2 seasons. The versatile winger is blessed with plenty of trickery, technical skills and dribbling abilities, but what he is perhaps best known for are his immaculate set-piece abilities.
Crowned Swedish midfielder of the year in 2014 and 2016, Forsberg has been integral to RB Leipzig’s meteoric rise and astonishing performances this season. Not only is he a goal-scoring threat from free-kicks, he is also excellent in putting the ball in a threatening area from set-pieces.
Forsberg’s performances and incredible free-kick abilities have drawn a lot of attention and it will not be a surprise if the talented Swedish playmaker keeps up his good performances and makes it to the Bundesliga team of the season.
#9 Christian Eriksen
25-year-old Danish international, Christian Eriksen is among the best set-piece takers in the Premier League. Tottenham, under Mauricio Pochettino, have become one of the best teams in England and Eriksen’s influence on the side cannot be underestimated.
The team’s main set-piece taker, Eriksen has time and again rescued Spurs’ from sticky situations with his brilliant free-kick and corner taking abilities. Calm and composed on the ball, the talented playmaker is often the main creative influence.
While his passing, technical abilities and vision are rightly lauded, Eriksen’s main strength is arguably his free-kick abilities. A dead-ball specialist, Pochettino will be hoping that the Danish international continues scoring incredible free-kick goals.
#8 Cristiano Ronaldo
Arguably the best player in world football at the moment, Cristiano Ronaldo has taken his game to new heights last season. Used sparingly and intelligently by Zidane, the Portuguese superstar rediscovered his free-kick taking abilities and looked potent and threatening from set pieces.
Famed for his distinctive knuckle ball technique, Ronaldo stepped up and converted his free-kicks when it mattered scoring crucial goals against Sporting CP in the Champions League and Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.
One of the greatest goalscorers to ever play the game, Ronaldo has provided us plenty of memorable moments with his free-kick taking prowess and Zidane will be hoping that the Portuguese superstar continues his good form and continues scoring from dead ball situations for Los Blancos.
#7 Gylfi Sigurdsson
Everton's newest big money signing, Gylfi Sigurdsson is undoubtedly one of the best exponents in the art of striking a dead ball. The Iceland international scored plenty of stunning free-kick goals for Swansea and his incisive corners and set-pieces were a major reason for the Welsh side's survival in the Premier League last season.
A playmaker par excellence, Sigurdsson is known for his vision, passing skills and technical ability. It was no wonder Everton paid over the odds to secure his signing. Always a threat from dead ball situations, Sigurdsson is equally effective both at scoring from direct free-kicks and setting up teammates from long distance free-kicks and corners.
What makes Sigurdsson such an effective set-piece taker, is the fact that he has so many different ways of taking a free-kick. Capable of curling the ball well away from the goalkeeper’s reach, Sigurdsson is definitely one of the best free-kick takers in world football at the moment.
#6 Dimitri Payet
One of the most dreaded set piece takers in world football at the moment, Dimitri Payet has scored some unbelievable free-kicks in the last year. The Frenchman's incredible set-piece abilities had made him a firm fan favourite at West Ham until he made a controversial move back to Ligue 1 giants Marseille.
Capable of getting the ball to dip and swerve in scarcely believable angles, Payet’s distinctive free-kicks almost give the opposition goalkeeper no chance of saving them. One of the best French midfielders at the moment, Payet is considered by many to be the most consistent free-kick taker at the moment.
The 30-year-old will be looking to continue performing at the same level and contribute significantly to both Marseille and the French national team in the coming years.
This fan view of the Payet free-kick will show his exact quality.
#5 Lionel Messi
One of the two standout players of this generation, Lionel Messi has made free-kick taking an art. A threat from any angle and any distance, Messi has often scored some spectacular curling free-kicks at crucial intervals.
in 2017 January, the Argentine had become so good with his dead ball abilities, that he scored 3 free-kicks in 3 successive matches (against Bilbao, Villarreal and again against Bilbao).
Capable of going over the wall or curling into the top corner to the same side as the goalkeeper, Messi's varied and effective set-pieces have time and again proven to be the difference in crucial matches. One of Messi's free-kicks for Argentina in the Copa Centenario was even nominated for the Puskas award last year.
Sit back and enjoy the genius of Lionel Messi.
#4 Toni Kroos
In a team having Ronaldo, Bale and the likes of Asensio, it is no surprise that an absolute maestro like Toni Kroos does not get the attention he deserves. An expert at taking corners and long-distance free-kicks, Kroos' accurate delivery from set-pieces has often been the difference between a win and a draw for Los Blancos.
In the 2016/17 season, Real Madrid scored an incredible 26 goals from set-pieces with Kroos taking the majority of them (105 out of the 168 corners). When players like Modric and Isco make way for someone to take the set-piece, you know that his delivery is going to be almost perfect every time.
In fact, the combination of Kroos and Ramos bagged 7 goals for Real last season and the Madrid captain has been among the first to praise Kroos' incredible set-piece taking abilities.
One of the best midfielders in the world, Kroos is also undoubtedly among the best set-piece takers in the world at the moment.
Watching Kroos in full flow is one of the most beautiful sights on a football switch.
#3 Miralem Pjanic
Bought by Juventus as a replacement for Paul Pogba, 27-year-old Miralem Pjanic has quickly settled into his role as the chief playmaker in this very impressive Juventus side. Gifted with amazing technical ability, playmaking skills and tactical versatility, Pjanic is perhaps best known for his incredible set-piece taking ability.
Described by the legendary Juninho as the best free-kick taker in the world in 2015, Pjanic has scored some absolute beauties for both his club and national sides in the last few years. Not only is he known for his accurate bending direct free-kicks, he is also renowned for delivering questioning balls into the box from anywhere on the pitch.
A true dead ball specialist, Allegri will be hoping that the playmaker continues his good performances in the 2017/18 season.
#2 Hakan Calhanoglu
There are very few players who are known exclusively for their free-kick skills. Legendary Lyon and Brazil star Juninho was one, AC Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu is another. The 23-year-old can almost make the ball listen to his will and is a true master in the art of taking set pieces.
Citing Cristiano Ronaldo and Juninho as inspirations, Calhanoglu has arguably already passed the Portuguese superstar in terms of free-taking abilities. While the Turkish international is a supreme playmaker in his own right, he is almost always only talked about for his excellent set-piece abilities.
Both his club and country’s designated set-piece taker, Calhanoglu is quite clearly one of the best exponents of the dead ball in world football at the moment. Here are his best free-kick goals from the Bundesliga.
AC Milan will be hoping for some special goals from the Turkish playmaker this season.
#1 Neymar Jr.
The man for the big occasion, Brazil and newly signed PSG superstar, Neymar is arguably the best set-piece taker in world football at the moment. Having recently completed a record breaking €222 million move from Barcelona to PSG, the 25-year-old has wasted no time in making an impact scoring and setting up goals for fun in his first three games.
The man for the big occasion, Neymar has time and again brought out his best in crunch situations. Who can forget the incredible Barcelona comeback (ironically) against PSG, where the Brazilian scored and set up 2 goals in the last 5 minutes.
Also, Neymar's incredible corner assist for Kurzawa at PSG is still being talked about in tones of awe and the Ligue 1 giants will be really pleased with having tied up the deal for one of the best players of this generation.
Neymar's assist to Kurzawa is definitely a thing of beauty.
