Silence and excitement on the field, the viewer held his breath in anticipation, and the player’s tense muscles give out a moment - now it will be a penalty! Fans especially appreciate such turns of the match, because it is they who set the intrigue of the game, and often decide its outcome. That is why many teams knowingly acquire players who specialize in a powerful free-kick in a variety of positions - a kind of magic wand in a difficult moment.
Let’s take a look at the TOP-10 European and not only penalty players who managed to change the course of the most important championships and earned the recognition of an enthusiastic audience.
10. David Beckham
The name does not descend from the tabloids and magazines of successful people, despite the completed career of this football player. It was not without reason that he was nicknamed “an artist on the field” in the sports environment, because David has repeatedly shown a truly interesting and diverse game, defending the honor of both Real Madrid and Manchester United. Sports agents and clubs laid out indecently a lot of money to lure the star of penalties to his staff. Beckham's tough and confident position allowed him to always successfully beat the free throws, but far from the first attempt. One cannot help recalling the player’s charisma at this moment: it carefully and for a long time pushes the ball with a confident and pensive face, squints its eyebrows at the distance, and then demonstratively extends the left hand and bends the right one. Penalty Beckham always happened, as they say, "in beauty."
9. Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira's sensational promising shot also ended his career as one of the best players of the century. During the execution of the penalty, the player’s ball flew to the extreme points of the goal so that the opponent’s goalkeeper could only pray. Ronaldinho kept the bar for a long time at the top level precisely because of an interesting game: this was a low kick to Bremen and a great goal at the World Cup in 2002. And when the Brazilian rolled a hat-trick ...! Ronaldinho does not consider the opponent an obstacle, a field, or a distance as an obstacle for a “savory” free kick (he scored even from a distance of 35-40 meters). A special relaxation and laziness before a cult blow gave the player charm and charm. By the way, Ronaldinho beats good twists, uses various tricks (a blow by rabona, punching under the wall).
8. Andrea Pirlo
The Italian player became famous by performing unique penalties for the club Milan. It is considered a real perfectionist, as he confidently used 2 legs to perform a blow. The goals are spectacular and perfect. The distance of 35 meters for the midfielder was not an obstacle. Andrea admitted that he was always inspired by Juninho's punches, with the help of which he honed his technical skills. Since 2005, the Italian correctly placed his foot and hit the ball with only 3 fingers, and not with his whole foot. Thanks to this impact, a specific trajectory was provided. Pirlo is considered one of the best standards followers in the past 15 years.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
The young Portuguese literally burst into the world of football and show business. His name does not leave screens and tabloids, fashion magazines show the player’s sports figure, and advertising agents fight for his charming smile. And not in vain, because a footballer has been at the peak of his career for so many years, showing a wonderful game and skillful ability to beat penalty goals. Speaking for Madrid and the national team, the Portuguese beat many world records. Ronaldo overtook Juninho and Becks in the distance, as he mastered points of more than 40 meters. The most memorable goals Ronaldo sent to the gates of Arsenal and Portsmouth.
6. Lionel Messi
The real king of football, currently glorifying Spanish Barcelona thanks to filigree penalties. He was known as a true genius of the ball, which often hits goals from the first blow. His statistics over the past 5 years are amazing! A miniature Argentinean confidently moves around the field, feels the distance, so in the penalty area he focuses more on accuracy of hit, rather than on power. A player often hits the “goalie" corner from an impressive distance.
5. Diego Maradona
A professional from Argentina has already completed his career, but is still actively discussed by fans. It was remembered to the people thanks to the goal “by the hand of God” and the best penalty of the century. On the field, regardless of the distance and intensity of the situation, he worked real miracles, changing the course of the game and score. Despite the small growth for a football player, Maradona had excellent dribbling and was not afraid to beat long-range free kicks.
4. Juninho Pernambucano
Brazilian Antonio Reis is considered the real idol of free kicks. During his completed career, he compiled excellent statistics of filigree twisted balls that flew to distant nines with preliminary wall contouring. The best goalkeepers of world clubs were afraid of Juninho's free throws, because the player’s track record is amazing - more than 76 hits! The Brazilian style is vaguely reminiscent of Beckham's game, but far superior in quality and power. The mastermind Pirlo kept the average free kick distance (27-30 m), but showed clear and technically beautiful shots. To fulfill them, he studied the structure of various types of balls and practiced hundreds of powerful blows with the goalkeeper. Most of all he managed to “diving” impacts after the wall circumference. Also, success was ensured by the correct setting of the foot.
3. Alessandro Del Piero
The Italian footballer was remembered for technical penalties in the Champions League and Serie A. His shots were accurate and constructive - it is almost impossible to stop the ball. Fans fell in love thanks to an amazing goal against Madrid in the Champions League. Surprisingly, Del Piero did not even look at the gate during the strike, as he intuitively felt the goalkeeper and understood where the most vulnerable spot was in the zone. Playing for Juventus, Alessandro hit with both legs, directing the ball into the far upper corner. A real thunderstorm of goalkeepers, as the player’s penalty balls were obviously considered “dead”.
2. Roberto Carlos
The famous player of Madrid and the defender of the Brazilian national team ended his career, retaining trembling memories of the legendary and sometimes impossible free-kicks. Amazing goals flew along the trajectory with a bend, so even the best goalkeepers could not take them (the speed of the ball reached almost 200 km per hour!). For unique penalties, the Brazilian shifted his own center of gravity, which allowed him to achieve maximum power of the blow. Interestingly, even after completing a career, Carlos continues to “indulge” in free kicks and shoots 7 goals daily.
1. Sinisha Mikhailovich
The Yugoslav left defender used his left foot in free kicks, and nevertheless the balls flew into the enemy net clearly and beautifully. Penalty from a distance of 25 meters was for Sinesh as normal as a penalty. The most successful hat-trick player performed at the gate of Sampdoria. Well mastered a distance of 30 meters, and also could develop a ball speed of about 165 km per hour. Goalkeepers from Serie A were forced to prepare hard for a possible meeting with Mikhailovich's free-kicks, who were flying, including from the corner of the field. The skill of Yugoslav brought Inter the treasured victories and admiration of the fans.
These are the masters of free kicks - even at the end of a career they remain in the fans' memory. YouTube still contains a selection of the best moments with the participation of the above players.