Ronald Koeman, Holland v England, October, 1993: Him again. One of the lowest points of England’s international football history as their hopes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup were left in tatters. Koeman took centre stage. A duffed first free kick was allowed to be retaken and he made no mistake the second time around with the most deft falling leaf chip over the wall you are ever likely to see. Koeman later avoided one of the most blatant red card fouls football has seen. Did England not like that. Colorsport / Shutterstock
Marcus Rashford, Chelsea v Manchester United, October 2019: Did anyone expect him to score as he lined up 35 yards out? He obviously knew he could, and so he did. An incredible strike. PA Photo
Lionel Messi, Barcelona v Liverpool, May 2019: He may be small but it doesn’t mean the Argentine can’t ping one in the top corner from 30 yards as he did in the Champions League semi final. It was a glorious, arcing strike on a night when Messi was at his imperious best. He scored his 50th free-kick this week against Valladolid. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Teofilo Cubillas, Peru v Scotland, June 1978: Truly one from the archives and a World Cup classic, yet it still feels so unique. The set piece was right on the edge of the penalty area and instead of an instep-curler over the wall, Cubillas went for an outside of the foot curler around the wall at the near post and it looked effortless. Beautiful. Great kit too. AP Photo
Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United v Portsmouth, January 2008: These were the early days of the knuckle-ball shot where the striker used the laces rather than curving with the instep. Many went straight into the crowd, but this one was utter perfection with no spin whatsoever imparted as it flew past David James in goal. Manchester United via Getty Images
David Beckham, England v Greece, October 2001: England needed a draw to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and were surprisingly losing as Beckham stood over the ball in the 93rd minute. It was this moment that turned him into a national hero as he unleashed one of his trademark, bending set-pieces into the top corner and caused utter pandemonium around the country. Bend it like Beckham indeed. Reuters
Ronaldinho, Brazil v England, June 2002: Fluke or deliberate? He says he meant to lob David Seaman in the World Cup quarter final (not the first time that had happened to the keeper in a big match), and debate rumbled on for years. He was 10 yards from the touchline, and about 40 yards from goal when he sailed the ball high enough to clear Seaman, and with enough dip to tuck in under the crossbar. Getty Images
Roberto Carlos, Brazil v France, 1997: The free kick that seemingly defied the laws of physics. Everyone knew about Carlos’s hammer of a left foot but in this instance he added extraterrestrial swerve to send the ball around the wall rather than over it with the outside of his boot. It was dramatic in every respect – especially with his 20-yard run up. Boom. Getty Images
Paul Gascoigne, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, April, 1991: This was Gazza at his best before injury decimated his career. The balls were heavier in those days and he was 30 yards out at Wembley with David Seaman and a wall in his way. He drove it with both curve and venom into the top corner and typically went wild when it hit the back of the net during what was an FA Cup semi-final. PA Images via Getty Images
Ronald Koeman, Barcelona v Sampdoria, 1992: Stages don’t get much bigger than this – the European Cup final. And Koeman’s thunder-foot provided the only goal of the game. Watching it again, it should never have been a free-kick in the first place, but the Dutchman made the most of the opportunity with a blistering drive despite hardly any run-up. Getty Images
Ronald Koeman, Holland v England, October, 1993: Him again. One of the lowest points of England’s international football history as their hopes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup were left in tatters. Koeman took centre stage. A duffed first free kick was allowed to be retaken and he made no mistake the second time around with the most deft falling leaf chip over the wall you are ever likely to see. Koeman later avoided one of the most blatant red card fouls football has seen. Did England not like that. Colorsport / Shutterstock
Marcus Rashford, Chelsea v Manchester United, October 2019: Did anyone expect him to score as he lined up 35 yards out? He obviously knew he could, and so he did. An incredible strike. PA Photo
Lionel Messi, Barcelona v Liverpool, May 2019: He may be small but it doesn’t mean the Argentine can’t ping one in the top corner from 30 yards as he did in the Champions League semi final. It was a glorious, arcing strike on a night when Messi was at his imperious best. He scored his 50th free-kick this week against Valladolid. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Teofilo Cubillas, Peru v Scotland, June 1978: Truly one from the archives and a World Cup classic, yet it still feels so unique. The set piece was right on the edge of the penalty area and instead of an instep-curler over the wall, Cubillas went for an outside of the foot curler around the wall at the near post and it looked effortless. Beautiful. Great kit too. AP Photo
Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United v Portsmouth, January 2008: These were the early days of the knuckle-ball shot where the striker used the laces rather than curving with the instep. Many went straight into the crowd, but this one was utter perfection with no spin whatsoever imparted as it flew past David James in goal. Manchester United via Getty Images
David Beckham, England v Greece, October 2001: England needed a draw to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and were surprisingly losing as Beckham stood over the ball in the 93rd minute. It was this moment that turned him into a national hero as he unleashed one of his trademark, bending set-pieces into the top corner and caused utter pandemonium around the country. Bend it like Beckham indeed. Reuters
Ronaldinho, Brazil v England, June 2002: Fluke or deliberate? He says he meant to lob David Seaman in the World Cup quarter final (not the first time that had happened to the keeper in a big match), and debate rumbled on for years. He was 10 yards from the touchline, and about 40 yards from goal when he sailed the ball high enough to clear Seaman, and with enough dip to tuck in under the crossbar. Getty Images
Roberto Carlos, Brazil v France, 1997: The free kick that seemingly defied the laws of physics. Everyone knew about Carlos’s hammer of a left foot but in this instance he added extraterrestrial swerve to send the ball around the wall rather than over it with the outside of his boot. It was dramatic in every respect – especially with his 20-yard run up. Boom. Getty Images
Paul Gascoigne, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, April, 1991: This was Gazza at his best before injury decimated his career. The balls were heavier in those days and he was 30 yards out at Wembley with David Seaman and a wall in his way. He drove it with both curve and venom into the top corner and typically went wild when it hit the back of the net during what was an FA Cup semi-final. PA Images via Getty Images
Ronald Koeman, Barcelona v Sampdoria, 1992: Stages don’t get much bigger than this – the European Cup final. And Koeman’s thunder-foot provided the only goal of the game. Watching it again, it should never have been a free-kick in the first place, but the Dutchman made the most of the opportunity with a blistering drive despite hardly any run-up. Getty Images
Ronald Koeman, Holland v England, October, 1993: Him again. One of the lowest points of England’s international football history as their hopes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup were left in tatters. Koeman took centre stage. A duffed first free kick was allowed to be retaken and he made no mistake the second time around with the most deft falling leaf chip over the wall you are ever likely to see. Koeman later avoided one of the most blatant red card fouls football has seen. Did England not like that. Colorsport / Shutterstock
Marcus Rashford, Lionel Messi and the 10 most legendary free-kicks
The Manchester United striker scored arguably one of the greatest set-pieces against Chelsea on Wednesday night. See some of the other most talked about strikes below
