Free Kicks

If you're like me, you've never found yourself standing in a wall facing a Lionel Messi free kick. But, unlike me, maybe someday you will. If this is the case, you need to mentally and physically prepare for the eventual moment when you stand facing down the left foot of one Lionel Andrés Messi, Esquire. Let's be honest, in this moment, you don't want something like this to happen to you.

After hitting a Ronaldinho-esque free kick in Barcelona’s 6-1 victory over Girona last Saturday, Lionel Messi scored his fourth direct free kick of the La Liga season to give his side an early 1-0 lead over Las Palmas on Thursday.

Messi’s rocket from 20 yards out — a free kick he earned himself after a spectacular run at the heart of the Las Palmas defense — flew into the top corner, leaving Las Palmas goalkeeper Leandro Chichizola fanning at air.

Standing over a free kick from 22 yards out during Toronto FC’s preseason friendly against Club America in Mexico City, Sebastian Giovinco looked up to see a three-man wall, defenders on either post, the goalkeeper stationed dead center and four more players scattered in front of goal to deter any other angles. No matter.

The Atomic Ant rifled one into the top-right corner, giving the defender on that post zero chance (maybe a slim chance of being decapitated). There’s simply no stopping the 31-year-old Italian. 

The best free kick taker of all time turns 43 today, and we have found the perfect video to honor all of his greatest strikes.