Is there anything more dramatic in the sport of soccer than a direct free kick? The referee marching off the ten yards, exuberantly laying down the vanishing spray while the entire stadium holds its collective breath, anticipating the immaculate strike. Step forward the dead ball specialist.
But who is the best in the world? Who, after going through the melodrama of scrutinizing the stationary ball and plastering their facial features with the look of ingrained concentration, actually sticks the ball in the back of the net with some regularity?
The world’s best direct free kick taker, averaging one set-piece goal every 6.8 matches, is Turkish international and Bayer Leverkusen’s 21-year-old sensation Hakan Calhanoglu. During the 2014-15 season, Calhanoglu scored directly from six free kicks alone. Comparatively, Ronaldo and Messi both scored twice from free kicks throughout the course of the season.
Photo: @arfanzuhdi | Twitter
While he may not possess a self-aggrandizing routine, be heralded as the greatest player on Earth or trumpet his own ability at every opportunity, Calhanoglu consistently delivers from set-pieces like no one else.
Need more evidence? How about leaving the world’s best keeper cursing and mumbling under his breath after fanning at nothing but air?
Calhanoglu’s secret? He told UEFA.com “I try to put the ball over the wall. That is my strength, and if I hit the ball well then it normally goes in.” Simple enough.
He’s also spent time studying free-kick specialists like David Beckham and Juninho, widely regarded as the best free kick specialist of all time.
Sorry to infuriate any Bayer Leverkusen ultras, but Calhanoglu is the game’s most known unknown. He’s certainly not entirely under the radar. Leverkusen purchased him from fellow Bundesliga club Hamburger SV for €14.5 million and he was nominated for the 2014 Golden Boy Award, but he’s still not a household name in most soccer circles.
Relegated to international YouTube stardom, Calhanoglu has achieved fame for his ridiculous array of free kick goals and set-piece deliveries. He’s also drawn comparisons to German national team player Mesut Ozil, a comparison he welcomes by declaring, “I want to be Turkey’s Mesut Ozil.”
He's well on his way to achieving that ambition. On October 10th, 2015, he scored the goal against the Czech Republic which secured Turkey's place at EURO 2016.
With his performances in the Champions League, including 2 goals and 2 assists against the likes of Lazio, BATE Borisov, Roma and Barcelona, drawing international acclaim, Calhanoglu’s meteoric rise from Germany’s third division seems to be only just beginning.
Premier League powers Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal are all reported to be extremely interested in bringing Calhanoglu to England. It's about time the rest of the world took notice.
