With FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi recently scoring his sixth free-kick of the season, and the 40th of his career overall, here are the 10 leading free-kick scorers of all time – and the Argentine is far behind Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, who himself is not in the top 10.
Tired of reading? Click through the gallery above to see the 10 players who have scored the most free-kicks throughout football history, according to Sport.
Messi has been in fine form from set-pieces this season, scoring six times in this manner in LaLiga to equal Ronaldinho's Spanish top flight record from the 2006/07 campaign.
The Argentine's consistency from free-kicks has made it seem like he could be up there with the leading scorers from dead-ball situations in history, but with 40 career strikes, he is far from the top.
Ronaldo, who has scored 51 free-kicks in his career, does not even make the top 10, which features some of football's biggest names.
According to Sport, Brazilians Marcelinho Carioca and Rogerio Ceni scored 59 free-kicks each in their respective careers, although the latter's achievement is more incredible given he was a goalkeeper.
Former Barca and Netherlands midfielder Ronald Koeman struck 60 times from free-kicks, while Zico and Diego Maradona feature with their 62 direct set-piece goals.
Ahead of the Argentine and Brazil legends is David Beckham on 65 goals, behind Selecao icon Ronaldinho.
Former Argentina star Víctor Legrotaglie, who played for clubs such as Atletico Argentino and Gimnasia Esgrima, hit 66 free-kick goals in his career, which earns him third spot.
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The great Pele is second with his 70 free-kick conversions, behind another Brazilian Juninho Pernambucano, who hit the back of the net from 77 free-kicks.
Do you think Messi and Ronaldo will eventually break into the top 10? Let us know in the comments section below.
