FULL LIST: All-time free-kick scorers, Messi moves to second, Ronaldo ninth

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF looks on during the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Lionel Messi has moved into second place on the all-time free-kick goals list after a strong 2026, overtaking several legendary Brazilian specialists and stretching clear of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi now has 75 direct free-kick goals in his career, while Ronaldo sits on 63. The Argentine’s six free-kick strikes this year alone have propelled him past Juninho Pernambucano (72), Roberto Dinamite (73) and Jair (74), leaving him just three behind the record holder, Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho Carioca, on 78.

The numbers mark a significant shift from earlier in their careers. In 2017, Messi had only 34 free-kick goals compared with Ronaldo’s 53. A Yahoo Sports article at the time carried the headline “One of the records that Messi will never dare to break of Ronaldo,” reflecting the widespread view that the gap was too large to close. Messi refined his technique in his thirties and has since pulled well clear.

Ronaldo, now 41, remains ninth on the all-time list. While he could still pass players such as Jorge Aravena (65), Siniša Mihajlović (67), and Marcos Assunção (68) before retiring, climbing into the top five seems unlikely.

The full ranking of the leading free-kick scorers in football history according to Planet Football on Wednesday is as follows:

Marcelinho Carioca – 78

Lionel Messi – 75

Jair – 74

Roberto Dinamite – 73

Juninho Pernambucano – 72

Marcos Assunção – 68

Siniša Mihajlović – 67

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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.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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