One of the most pleasing moments to see in our game is a goal being scored from a dead ball situation, or primarily, a free kick. Over the course of history there have been numerous occasions where a player will simply make your jaw drop in striking a perfect shot past a flailing goalkeeper’s hands from 20-35 yards out. The trick to being considered great, is to do it consistently over a long period of time, and in pressure circumstances. The individuals below, to me, have shown that they are capable of putting that ball on a dime in any corner of the next almost on demand, time after time. Some players I have left out but I felt this group represented the very best.
What I find interesting is how most of these players come from the modern era and I tried to figure out why. Was it that modern players were more skillful and talented with the dead ball, or was it something less obvious. It then dawned on me that the equipment, in other words the ball, was the culprit. The ball in the old days was less likely to move in the air and harder to control. It was more susceptible to weather influences such as rain and cold, and also, a key influence here has been the Internet. When a player scores with a breathtaking strike, modern day technology beams that evidence all over the world in an instant. In a flash, everyone is looking to imitate the feat. Pele may have scored as many great free kicks, but few were televised.
So, who do you think fits the bill for the “The Greatest of All Time” ?
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