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Free-kicks often provide players with an excellent chance to score goals by giving them control of the play from a dead ball. Over the years, several players have become free-kick specialists because of their mercurial talent when it comes to these set pieces.
Direct free-kicks are usually works of beauty as players are required to use the best of their abilities to convert them. Players spend hours upon hours practising free-kicks, hoping to perfect them one day.
Across Europe's top 5 leagues, several top players have become free-kick specialists for their respective teams and often score from these situations, with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi being a prime example.
On that note, here is a look at the top 5 footballers who have scored the most number of direct free-kicks across Europe's top 5 leagues over the last 5 seasons:
#5 Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo) - 7
Iago Aspas has been Celta de Vigo's best free-kick specialist for a few years now. The 33-year-old striker is currently playing his 12th season for the club and was a part of the side when Celta de Vigo were promoted to La Liga from Segunda Division in 2012.
Aspas spent the next two seasons at Liverpool and Sevilla respectively before returning to Celta de Vigo in 2015. The Spaniard has made a total of 365 appearances for the club in all competitions and has registered 161 goals and 43 assists in that time.
In the last 5 seasons, Aspas has scored 7 direct free-kick goals in the league for Celta de Vigo.
#4 Paulo Dybala (Juventus) - 7
27-year-old Paulo Dybala is now playing his 7th season for Serie A giants Juventus and is on the verge of crossing the 100-goal mark for the club.
La Joya has made 244 appearances for Juventus and has scored 98 goals and assisted 40 more. During his time at Juventus, Dybala has won 11 major trophies including 5 Serie A titles.
Dybala has also come to be known as a player who is capable of converting from free-kicks and has taken many for the club in the last few years. In just the last 5 seasons, Dybala has scored 7 direct free-kicks for Juventus.
#3 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) - 8
A product of Southampton's youth academy, James Ward-Prowse has spent his entire career with the Premier League side and is currently playing his 9th season for the club.
The 26-year-old defensive midfielder has made 301 appearances for the club across competitions. He came closest to winning silverware when Southampton finished runners-up in the 2016-17 EFL Cup.
Despite being a defensive midfielder, Ward-Prowse has scored 29 goals for the club in all competitions. 8 of those goals have been direct free-kicks scored in the last five seasons.
#2 Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City, AS Roma) - 8
Over the past 5 seasons, Aleksandar Kolarov has played for Manchester City, Roma and Inter Milan. Kolarov moved from Manchester City to Roma in 2017 after 7 seasons with the Premier League giants, during which he won 6 major trophies including 2 Premier League titles. He subsequently spent 3 seasons at Roma before moving to Inter Milan in 2020.
Predominantly a defender, Kolarov has developed an ability to convert direct free-kicks and has done so 8 times in the last 5 seasons - once for Manchester City before leaving and the other 7 for Serie A side, Roma.
Kolarov has made 7 appearances for Inter Milan thus far but is yet to score a goal for them.
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 21
Widely considered to be one of the best free-kick takers the game has seen, it's hardly surprising that Lionel Messi leads this list. The 6-time Ballon d'Or winner has a surreal ability to convert direct free-kicks over the years.
The 33-year-old struck home a magnificent direct free-kick last night against Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, helping Barcelona snatch a 2-1 win and climb to 2nd place on the La Liga table.
Staggeringly, last night's free-kick was the 21st direct free-kick Lionel Messi has scored in just the last 5 seasons for Barcelona. The goal also marked his 650th career goal for Barcelona.
Lionel Messi - who is now playing his 17th season for Barcelona - has made 755 appearances for the club across competitions. In that time, he has registered 650 goals and 284 assists.
Inarguably the best player to have played for Barcelona (and perhaps even the sport in general), Lionel Messi has won 33 major trophies with Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles and 4 UEFA Champions League trophies.
