But we all can agree that every single goal scored is different and has unique circumstances that lead to the goal being scored.
A goal from a direct free-kick is one of the most beautiful sights in football. Who doesn’t love a perfectly executed, curling free-kick that beats the wall and the keeper, leaving the spectators as well as the opponents in awe.
When we talk about goals from free-kicks, invariably the names that come to the mind are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pjanic. But it should not be forgotten that some of the best free-kick takers in the game like Roberto Carlos and Ronald Koeman were defenders.
With Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League upon us, we take a look at 7 defenders who have scored from dead ball situations in the history of the competition.
#1 David Alaba
David Alaba is a proven dead ball specialist. His gem of a left foot is known to unleash powerful and accurate free-kicks from time to time. The Bayern Munich left-back also handles the set-piece duties for his country Austria.
Back in the 2013-14 Champions League campaign, Alaba lined up to take a free-kick from just outside the box against CSKA Moscow in a group stage fixture.
And as expected, the Austrian curled a beautiful left-footed shot into the right corner of the goal, in the 3rd minute of the game, giving the Bavarians the lead.
Video: David Alaba free-kick
This effort remains his only goal from a free-kick in the competition, though he has been on the score-sheet in the Champions League 5 times, with 4 goals scored off his left foot.
Overall, he has scored 8 goals from free-kicks in all competitions, with all coming from his preferred left foot.
#2 Dani Alves
Dani Alves, who is yet to recover from an injury that kept him out of the 2018 World Cup, will be known as one of the most attack-minded right-backs of our time.
While most of his attacking contributions come in form of assists, the Brazilian is not afraid of having a go at goal himself.
He has also seen his fair share of set-piece duties for his former clubs - Sevilla, Barcelona, and Juventus, and managed to score direct free-kick goals in the Champions League on two different occasions with different teams.
His first goal from a dead-ball situation came back in the 2007-08 season, when he was still with Sevilla, against Fenerbahce.
He was again on the scoresheet, this time with Juventus, scoring against Dinamo Zagreb with a little help from a deflection off the wall.
Video: Dani Alves’ UCL free-kick goal against Dinamo Zagreb
#3 Sinisa Mihajlovic
Sinisa Mihajlovic is considered as one of the greatest free-kick takers of all time. The defender could score goals from dead ball situations at will.
He maintained his goal-scoring reputation in the Champions League as well, scoring in the erstwhile European Champions Club Cup and Champions League, twice from a free-kick.
Video: Sinisa Mihajlovic free-kick
He was part of the Red Star Belgrade team that won the competition in 1991, and converted a crucial free-kick in the second leg fixture against Bayern Munich.
#4 Aleksandar Kolarov
The former Manchester City defender is another left-footed defender known for his set-piece abilities and powerful shot.
He got the distinction of scoring a direct free-kick in the Champions League when he scored against Real Madrid from 25 yards out.
Video: Aleksandar Kolarov scores a free-kick against Real Madrid
He still remains a threat from set-piece situations, as seen in the last World Cup, where his free-kick against Costa Rica helped Serbia beat the Central American nation.
#5 Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman’s goal scoring stats are simply mind blowing, and it is no wonder this Dutch legend is the record goal-scoring defender of all time.
He scored one of the most memorable goals in Barcelona’s history, when his accurate free-kick in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup final in extra-time against Sampdoria won the first European title for La Blaugrana.
But his thunderous right-foot strike wasn’t technically a direct free-kick, with his two teammates setting up the ball perfectly for the defender, but still it is a wonderful goal with historical importance.
Video: Ronald Koeman free-kick
He scored his second goal in the competition at the Camp Nou in the 1993-94 season against Austria Vienna. This was a perfect, clean, direct free-kick.
Video: Ronald Koeman free-kick
His goal scoring exploits remain unmatched to this day, and he is only one of few players to score from a free-kick in the final of the tournament.
#6 David Luiz
David Luiz is one of the best ball-playing defenders right now. Although not a regular goal-scorer for his club, his set-piece skills are top-notch.
He scored his one and only direct free-kick goal in the Champions League in the 2012-13 season against Nordsjaelland at Stamford Bridge.
Video: David Luis free-kick
#7 Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos, who had a hammer of a left-foot, is the top free-kick scoring defender in the history of the competition.
He scored a staggering amount of goals for Real Madrid in the competition from set-piece situations.
The Brazilian produced a ridiculous amount of power in his free-kicks, and his wonder strike against France in 1997 earned him a place in the history books as the one of the greatest free-kick takers ever.
He is only behind Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of free-kick goals scored in the competition.
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