Free Kicks

Only 5% of people can correctly explain why this Rennes goal was disallowed — can you figure it out?

We apologize for the extra clickbaity headline, but we’re serious when we say few people can explain the disallowed Rennes goal vs. Villarreal from Thursday’s Europa League action.

For complete transparency, the author writing this story wasn’t part of the 5% of people who could correctly explain why this goal wasn’t counted upon first viewing. Not even CBS’ commentators understood the Rennes’ stoppage time equalizer mystery.

Before we give you the answer, watch the clip for yourself.

Rennes disallowed goal vs. Villarreal

Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo scores absurd free kick to give Al-Nassr comeback victory

Cristiano Ronaldo made his return to Al-Nassr’s starting XI after yet another successful international break with Portugal — becoming the only player to reach 200 international caps — and the 38-year-old came back doing what he’s been doing best this season, scoring goals.

Who said he can’t score free kicks anymore?

Cristiano Ronaldo free kick goal vs Damac 

Yes, 38-year-old Ronaldo is still scoring free kick bangers.

Watch: Finland referee makes one of rarest calls for an indirect free kick in the box

A referee in Finland’s top division blew his whistle for a call that you hardly ever see in professional soccer. It’s a rule that’s often broken but hardly ever called as the referee blew his whistle for the goalkeeper time wasting.

Goalkeeper 6 seconds rule broken

Eetu Huuhtanen is the goalkeeper for Finnish side Inter Turku and he was the one penalized for time wasting. Seeing goalkeepers receive yellow cards for taking too long on a goal kick is normal.

Watch: North Texas goalkeeper stuns everyone with free kick goal from near midfield

University of North Texas goalkeeper Maddie Ogden scored an unforgettable first career goal on Thursday with a free kick from near midfield.

As the final seconds of the first half ticked away between UNT and UTSA, Ogden launched a ball into the box that got past everyone including the opposing goalkeeper.

Soccer buzzer beater! Watch Texas Tech score game-winner vs. Texas as clock hits 0:00

Texas Tech women’s soccer team, ranked No. 25 in the country, had a wild 2-1 win vs. No. 14 Texas when they scored in the literal last second of the game. The Texas Tech goal vs Texas is as dramatic as it gets.

College soccer works differently than the professional games you might watch. In college there’s no stoppage time as the clock is paused when play stops. That also means that when the clock hits 0:00 the half/game is over right then and there.

Unlucky cameraman takes a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick straight to the face

Al Nassr secured a 3-1 victory in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a goal and taking out a cameraman in the process.

During the game Al Nassr were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Nearly all eyes in the stadium were on CR7 with the exception of the man operating the camera crane behind goal. 

Ronaldo’s kicked went past the wall, past the goalkeeper, past the goal and right into the face of the poor guy just trying to do his job. 

Lionel Messi scores another ridiculous game-winning free kick — this time for Argentina

Lionel Messi has been showing off his free kick technique in the U.S. with several beauties in the past months. He proved on Thursday he can still do it on the international stage as an amazing Messi free kick vs Ecuador got Argentina a big win for 2026 World Cup qualifying.

Argentina had several big chances during the game including Messi missing wide in the 16th minute, Lautaro Martinez hit the post right before half and other chances.

As the clock edged closer and closer to 90 minutes the game looked destined for a 0-0 draw. Then Ecuador made a crucial mistake.

Watch: Sneaky Messi scooched the ball forward to get a better angle for free kick goal

Lionel Messi’s game-tying free kick vs. FC Dallas on Sunday in the Leagues Cup was an insane moment. A new video angle prior to the kick shows that Messi was a little sneaky when he was setting up to take the shot.

While the referee had his back turned the Argentine ever so subtly moved the ball closer to the middle of the field to get a better angle for the shot. 

David Beckham's reaction to Messi's unreal free kick is going viral. And it's pure joy.

David Beckham's reaction to Lionel Messi's late-game free kick against FC Dallas is pure joy.

It came in the 85th minute of Inter Miami's game versus FC Dallas in the Leagues Cup as his side needed an equalizer.

Here's the free kick in case you missed it.

Lionel Messi gets a free kick in the 85th minute… you already know what happens next

Lionel Messi added another dramatic free kick goal to his Inter Miami highlight reel as his side defeated FC Dallas in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 with a scoreline of 5-3 on penalties after drawing 4-4 after 90 minutes.

This was Messi’s first away game since joining Inter Miami and he didn’t disappoint. The Argentine scored yet another brace to bring his goal tally with Miami up to seven goals in four games.

He has scored three braces in a row.

Pages