Messi, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho: 20 best free-kick takers in club football since 2000 | OneFootball

Lionel Messi netted yet another exquisite free-kick on Saturday evening.

The Argentine forward has made free-kicks look like penalties over the course of his glittering career.

But, prior to Paris Saint-Germain’s match against Nice at the Parc des Princes this weekend, Messi had not yet scored a free-kick for the French giants.

He managed to end that barren run in style in the 28th minute.

Messi won a free-kick roughly 25 yards out when he was felled by Dante. The 35-year-old dusted himself down and proceeded to strike a glorious effort into the top corner.

Messi has now scored 51 goals at club level during his career.

We’ve updated their list after Messi’s strike. View the most prolific free-kick takers at club level in the 21st century below…

20 players with most club free-kick goals in the 21st century

20. Dimitri Payet – 15 goals

19. Robert Skov – 15 goals

18. Nene – 15 goals

17. Christian Eriksen – 16 goals

16. Daniel Wass – 16 goals

15. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 18 goals

14. Aleksandar Kolarov – 19 goals

13. Miralem Pjanic – 21 goals

12. Juan Roman Riquelme – 22 goals

11. Hakan Calhanoglu – 25 goals

10. Wesley Sneijder – 26 goals

9. Roberto Carlos – 27 goals

8. Andrea Pirlo – 30 goals

7. Alessandro Del Piero – 37 goals

6. David Beckham – 43 goals

5. Cristiano Ronaldo – 47 goals

4. Lionel Messi – 51 goals

3. Ronaldinho – 55 goals

2. Rogerio Ceni – 59 goals

1, Juninho – 74 goals

Messi still way off top spot

Messi is undoubtedly the best set-piece taker in the world at the moment, but three players have scored more free-kick goals at club level than him in the 21st century.

Ronaldinho scored 55 club free-kicks during his career, four more than Messi.

Rogerio Ceni – a goalkeeper – scored a ridiculous 59 free-kicks.

While the great Juninho Pernambucano is well out in front. Messi is 23 club free-kicks away from matching the great Brazilian’s tally.

As amazing as Messi is, this is one record we just can’t see him breaking.