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Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo Aren't In The Top 10 Free Kick Takers

Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo Aren't In The Top 10 Free Kick Takers

Messi scored his third free kick in three La Liga games for Barcelona on Tuesday but he isn't one of the most prolific takers.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Lionel Messi has been all over the news because of his free kicks in recent weeks but despite scoring a lot of goals from set pieces he, and rival Cristiano Ronaldo, aren't in the top 10 of best takers.

This week has been crazy by anyone else's standards but just the usual same old when it comes to Lionel Messi. Last weekend the Barcelona forward chipped a set piece goal, although he was helped by an Espanyol defender, and on Tuesday he was at it again.

The goal against Villarreal in midweek was during a mad game in which Barca had been 2-0 up and 4-2 down with Messi not on the pitch but he started the comeback with his perfect curling set piece and then helped set up the equaliser to earn a point.

The 31 year old's strike was his seventh from a dead ball situation this season and took him to 41 free kick goals for Barcelona in his career.

Messi's goal, which made it 4-3, also earned him top spot in our poll for the top free kick takers of all time:

Look, you're all allowed an opinion of course but it doesn't mean that your opinion is right. Messi's good at free kicks but there's no way he's better than Juninho Pernambucano.

In case you needed any proof Give Me Sport have put together the list of top 10 free kick goal scorers and the Brazilian is obviously in the lead:

=9. Marcelinho Carioca - 59

=9. Rogerio Ceni - 59

Rogerio Ceni might be a goalkeeper but he's further up the list than Messi and Ronaldo. Image: PA Images
Rogerio Ceni might be a goalkeeper but he's further up the list than Messi and Ronaldo. Image: PA Images

8. Ronald Koeman - 60

=6. Zico - 62

=6. Diego Maradona - 62

5. David Beckham - 65

Beckham celebrates his free kick against Greece. Image: PA Images
Beckham celebrates his free kick against Greece. Image: PA Images

=3. Ronaldinho - 66

=3. Victor Legrottaglie - 66

2. Pele - 70

1. Juninho Pernambucano (77)

Juninho in his natural habitat, lining up a free kick for Lyon. Image: PA Images
Juninho in his natural habitat, lining up a free kick for Lyon. Image: PA Images

See, told you that you were wrong!

Cristiano Ronaldo has 53 free kicks to his name and Messi has 47 so with Ceni and Carioca both on 59 there's a good chance for both the five time Ballon d'Or winners to end up inside the top 10, although that will be a shame that Ceni gets knocked out of the list.

Juninho's 77 is a ridiculous number, even Pele making up half of his doesn't get close to it and the idea of anyone getting close seems unlikely right now.

Who is your favourite free kick taker?

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Ronaldinho, World Football, David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Juninho, Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo