Top 10 Free Kick Takers in Premier League History

Top 10 Free Kick Takers in Premier League History

It is without a doubt that free kick goals are some of the greatest and most satisfying goals to watch in football. Getting the ball to float over the wall and into the top corner is certainly one of the hardest techniques to master in the game. There have been many players that have scored great free kicks in their careers, such as Roberto Carlos and David Beckham, but who are the best free kick takers that the Premier League has ever seen?

Which Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick was better? ☄️

Tap the video to vote 👇

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 9, 2026

Top 10 Free Kick Takers in Premier League History

10. James Maddison (9 Free Kick Goals)

One of only three players on this list to currently be playing, James Maddison has the chance to climb this list when he returns from injury for Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur side. In his time at Leicester City, he helped the team to achieve Europa League Qualification twice and win the FA Cup, and his technical ability made him a danger from set pieces.

🏅 50 Premier League goals
🎯 9th direct free-kick goal

A special way for James Maddison to reach a new milestone in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa 👏 pic.twitter.com/5ixRT299By

— Premier League (@premierleague) November 3, 2024

9. Ian Harte (10 Free Kick Goals)

Ian Harte was mostly known throughout his career for his time at Leeds United. He was a long-range specialist who scored 85 goals in total during his club career, with 10 of these coming from direct free kicks. The best of his collection came against Manchester United in 2002, a truly outstanding strike.

8. Morten Gamst Pedersen (10 Free Kick Goals)

A true ‘streets won’t forget’ talent is Morten Gamst Pedersen, who is arguably Blackburn’s most iconic player of his era. During his time in the Premier League, Gamst Pedersen was known for his long-range ability, with 10 of his 34 goals coming from free kicks.

7. Sebastian Larsson (11 Free Kick Goals)

Sebastian Larsson began his Premier League career with Birmingham City but was most known for his 6 years that he spent at the Stadium of Light with Sunderland. During his time in the Premier League before leaving in 2017, Larsson scored 11 free-kick goals.

6. Laurent Robert (11 Free Kick Goals)

Laurent Robert was a cult hero at St James’ Park during his 5-year stint at Newcastle. During this time he showed his quality, which included tremendous technique and a thunderous strike with his left foot from long range, including free kicks, scoring 11 in total.

5. Gianfranco Zola (12 Free Kick Goals)

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 1996, Gianfranco Zola won the hearts of Chelsea fans and is regarded as a club legend. His small build made him very successful at dribbling round defenders, but also, he had a great strike from outside the box, scoring 12 free kicks during his 229 Premier League appearances.

4. Thierry Henry (12 Free Kick Goals)

Arguably the greatest player to ever play in the Premier League, Thierry Henry had the ability to score from all different scenarios. During his time as the talisman at Arsenal, Henry scored 12 fantastic free-kick goals in the Premier League. Was there anything the Frenchman couldn’t do?

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (12 Free Kick Goals)

One of the greats of the game, Cristiano Ronaldo, has had two stints in the Premier League with Manchester United during his illustrious career. Mainly during his first spell at the club, he was known for his incredible knuckleball technique when it came to free kicks, with the most notable one coming against Portsmouth.

OTD: Cristiano Ronaldo scored that ridiculous free-kick vs Portsmouth - 2008

Andy Gray: “I have to say I’m running out of words to describe this lad” 🐐

pic.twitter.com/YoP09jYWbb

— United Vault (@UtdVault) January 30, 2026

2. James Ward-Prowse (17 Free Kick Goals)

James Ward-Prowse is up there with the best free-kick takers in the world right now. During his time at Southampton, his efficiency from these situations was incredible. You would imagine that he will certainly have a chance to take the number one spot on this list, as he is still playing in the Premier League.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🟣 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Burnley sign James Ward-Prowse (31) on loan until end of season from West Ham. ✍️✨

Ward-Prowse had scored 17 Premier League goals direct from a free-kick, he's just one goal shy of David Beckham’s record of 18. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ehB0XksN3H

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) January 28, 2026

**1. David Beckham (18 Free Kick Goals) **

David Beckham is still regarded as the greatest free-kick taker in Premier League history. During his time in the Premier League, he scored 18 free-kick goals, often in big moments, and it became a speciality of his. He even scored one of England’s most famous goals against Greece in 2001 to take England to the World Cup.