Top 10 free-kick takers in Premier League history

There are few better sights in football than a free-kick specialist setting up the ball in position, scanning the wall and eventually connecting impeccably to send the ball flying into the back of the net. Luckily, the Premier League has had its fair share.

It doesn’t matter if it's Lionel Messi’s beautifully-placed near post effort or Roberto Carlos’ physics-defying stunner from 30 yards, free-kicks are the most beautiful art form in football.

The Premier League has had plenty of legendary free-kick takers over the years. Scratch that, the league has witnessed arguably the best free-kick takers in the history of the sport.

So, let us dive in and take a look at the 10 best free-kick takers in the Premier League history.

#10 Juan Mata (8 free-kicks)

Juan Mata has scored eight free-kick goals in the Premier League while playing for two powerhouses of English football, Manchester United and Chelsea. Despite that, the Spaniard remains one of the most underrated free-kick takers in the league's history.

Mata’s simple two-step run-up and perfect connection with the inside of his left foot leaves goalkeepers rooted to the spot more often than not. And the wall? It hardly bothers him!

Most of Mata’s eight free-kick goals have come for United, but he did showcase his dead-ball magic against the Red Devils back in the 2012-13 season during his time with Chelsea.

#9 Christian Eriksen (8 free-kicks)

No other player scored more free-kick goals than Eriksen during his time in EPL

In the last decade, there have been few better playmakers than Christian Eriksen in the Premier League. And while you can make fun of the former Tottenham Hotspur star for finding the first man at corners, no one can argue his brilliance from free-kicks.

The Danish international, like Mata, also scored eight free-kick goals for Spurs. The angle has never been a problem for Eriksen, as the right-footed midfielder has commonly scored from both the right and left side of the pitch.

#8 Ian Harte (10 free-kicks)

Wing-backs standing over the free-kick is no longer a surprising image thanks to the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcos Alonso. But to this date, there are not many who can match the standards set by Leeds United’s Ian Harte in the '90s.

The left-back used to wear 6.5 instead of 8.5 boots, two sizes small to help him with free-kicks, and it sure did. Harte scored some of the most memorable dead-ball goals with Leeds.

Harte went on to score 10 free-kick goals in the Premier League during his time at Elland Road.

#7 Morten Gamst Pedersen (10 free-kicks)

The Norwegian was called Magical Morten for a reason. Pedersen arrived at Blackburn Rovers as a 23 year-old and quickly made a name for himself as a free-kick specialist.

The winger was known for his delivery from both free-kicks and corners, and was never shy of taking a shot from either side of the field. But his two screamers from right flank against Wigan and Manchester United will never be forgotten.

By the time Pedersen left the Premier League in 2013, he had scored 10 free-kick goals and left the Rovers as a club legend.

#6 Sebastian Larsson (11 free-kicks)

Sebastian Larsson is one of the least-discussed names in the debate for the best taker in the Premier League. However, with his 11 free-kick goals for Birmingham and Sunderland, the Swedish international let his right foot do the talking.

Especially at Sunderland, any free-kick in the central area was a warning bell for opponents. Larsson was simply too good at deceiving the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net, as if was a video game.

After his free-kick goal against former club Arsenal back in 2011, Arsene Wenger called Larsson ‘maybe the best in the league as a free-kick taker’. When Wenger calls you the best, you are the best!

#5 Thierry Henry (12 free-kicks)

Henry is one of the greatest goal-scorers in Premier League history. But to add to the opposition’s misery, the Frenchman was also a free-kick specialist and scored 12 free-kicks goals during his time with the Gunners.

What made Henry’s free-kicks so special was his game awareness and cheeky, quick technique. The Arsenal forward made taking a free-kick look easy, but it wasn’t just about deceiving the opponents.

On one occasion, referee Graham Poll asked Henry to wait to avoid a quick free-kick but once he blew the whistle, the no.14 sent the ball in from 30 yards and simply asked Poll – “Is that enough?” Classic Henry.

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (11 free-kicks)

The man who needs no introduction. Ronaldo ticked all the boxes during his time in the Premier League; goalscorer, dribbler and a specialist. Hell, he even created a new box with his own ‘knuckleball free-kick technique’.

The mere image of Ronaldo in his trademark CR7 stance right before taking a free-kick can terrify the opponents. He scored 11 free-kick goals for the Red Devils, which included everything from under the wall efforts to a 30-yard screamer.

But his best effort came against Portsmouth in January 2008. A free-kick which left the goalkeeper frozen to the spot and has since been regarded as the best free-kick in Premier League history.

#3 Laurent Robert (11 free-kicks)

Laurent Robert scored a total of 22 goals at Newcastle United and half of them - 11 - came from free-kicks. Let that sink in!

The French winger wasn’t always the best attacker on the field but from dead ball situations, he was a completely different player. Right flank, left flank, near post, far post; no situation was beyond Robert to convert a free-kick.

Robert scored 11 free-kicks at an average of 13.6 games per free-kick goals, a tally bettered by no other player in the Premier League history.

#2 Gianfranco Zola (12 free-kicks)

Gianfranco Zola was fondly called the ‘Magic Box’ by Chelsea supporters due to his creativity and skills, and when it came to free-kicks, he was a magician in every sense.

Chelsea have seen many free-kick specialists over the years but no one comes close to Zola. During his time at Chelsea, the Italian scored 12 free-kicks, joint-second best in Premier League history.

And where did he learn the tricks of the trade, you ask? At Napoli, during his time with none other than a certain free-kick legend Diego Maradona.

#1 David Beckham (18 free-kick goals)

You say David Beckham, I hear free-kicks!

There are no surprises here. Beckham is the best taker the Premier League has ever seen. With 18 goals scored from free-kicks, the ex-Man United is leaps and bounds ahead of the second-placed Zola and Henry.

Becks had a certain aura around his technique; he generated a curl on the ball to take it away from the goalkeeper and it wasn’t a fluke. He worked on his free-kicks for hours after training by using a tire in the corners of the and it certainly paid off.

Edited by Alex Turk