the kings of Champions League free kicks: Ronaldo, Del Piero, and Juninho

the art of a single shot that sails over the defense and into the corner of the goal. free kicks are some of the most exhilarating scoring moments in soccer, so who are the players who have scored the most free kick goals in the history of Europe’s biggest stage, the UEFA Champions League, and have been dubbed the ‘King of Free Kicks’? surprisingly, Lionel Messi’s name doesn’t appear on this list, so let’s take a look at the best kickers in Champions League free-kick history.

top 4 Champions League free-kick scorers of all time

1st place: Cristiano Ronaldo – 12 goals

the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League, and the record holder for most goals from free kicks, is Cristiano Ronaldo. from his time at Manchester United to his time at Real Madrid, he has rattled the opposition’s net with a total of 12 direct free kicks. His trademark powerful, uncontested free kicks have given countless goalkeepers nightmares. Although his move to Saudi Arabia has made it difficult for him to break the record anymore, his record is likely to remain unbroken for some time.

2nd: Alessandro Del Piero – 11 goals

juventus fantasy star Alessandro Del Piero comes in second place with 11 goals. He was the record holder in this category for a long time before Ronaldo, and his two impressive free-kicks against Real Madrid remain a testament to his class. unfortunately, he only finished runner-up in the Champions League three times, but he also finished runner-up in the free-kick record, making him the ‘runner-up icon’.

3rd place: Juninho Pernambuco – 10 goals

when discussing the best free-kick specialists in soccer history, one name cannot be left out: Juninho. the Brazilian midfielder scored a whopping 10 free kicks in the Champions League during his time at Olympique Lyonnais. His kicking ability was absolute, with 10 of his 18 Champions League goals coming from free kicks and three from penalties. his toes were always sharp, with one season where he scored four direct free kicks in a season.

4th: Rivaldo – 8 goals

another left-footed wizard from Brazil, Hibaudu, comes in fourth place with eight goals. In his prime at Barcelona, he showed incredible concentration, scoring seven direct free kicks in just three years. he also holds the record for scoring two free-kick goals in a single game, so his left foot has unpredictable power.