Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has moved into second place on the all-time free-kick goals list, surpassing several legendary Brazilian specialists. As of September 2026, Messi has scored 75 direct free-kick goals in his career. His impressive performance in 2026, which included six free-kick strikes, enabled him to overtake Juninho Pernambucano (72), Roberto Dinamite (73), and Jair (74).
Messi is now just three goals behind the record holder, Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho Carioca, who has 78 free-kick goals. This development marks a significant shift from earlier in their careers. In 2017, Messi had only 34 free-kick goals compared to Cristiano Ronaldo's 53. At that time, it seemed unlikely that Messi would bridge the gap. However, Messi refined his technique in his thirties and has since pulled well clear of Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, now 41, remains ninth on the all-time list with 63 free-kick goals. Although he could still pass players like Jorge Aravena (65), Siniša Mihajlović (67), and Marcos Assunção (68) before retiring, climbing into the top five seems unlikely. The ranking of leading free-kick scorers in football history, according to Planet Football, lists Marcelinho Carioca as the top scorer.
The full ranking of the leading free-kick scorers in football history is as follows: Marcelinho Carioca – 78, Lionel Messi – 75, Jair – 74, Roberto Dinamite – 73, Juninho Pernambucano – 72, Marcos Assunção – 68, Siniša Mihajlović – 67, Jorge Aravena – 65, Cristiano Ronaldo – 63, Zico – 62, Diego Maradona – 61, Rogério Ceni – 59, Ronaldinho – 57, Shunsuke Nakamura – 56, David Beckham – 53, Alessandro Del Piero – 53, Franz Binder – 50.
With Messi still active and continuing to convert free-kicks at a high rate, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is now within realistic striking distance of Marcelinho Carioca’s long-standing record. His recent performances indicate that he may potentially break the record in the near future.
Messi's recent achievements have been impressive, including his 930 career goals in Inter Miami's 2-2 draw with San Diego. His consistent performance has solidified his position as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Other notable footballers have also achieved impressive milestones, such as Ronaldo and Harry Kane, who have scored 100 goals in two European Leagues. Footballers continue to push boundaries and break records, making the sport exciting and unpredictable.
Key points
- Lionel Messi has moved into second place on the all-time free-kick goals list with 75 direct free-kick goals.
- Messi is now just three goals behind the record holder, Marcelinho Carioca, who has 78 free-kick goals.
- Cristiano Ronaldo remains ninth on the all-time list with 63 free-kick goals.
