• Marcus Rashford, Chelsea v Manchester United, October 2019: Did anyone expect him to score as he lined up 35 yards out? He obviously knew he could, and so he did. An incredible strike. PA Photo
    Marcus Rashford, Chelsea v Manchester United, October 2019: Did anyone expect him to score as he lined up 35 yards out? He obviously knew he could, and so he did. An incredible strike. PA Photo
  • Lionel Messi, Barcelona v Liverpool, May 2019: He may be small but it doesn’t mean the Argentine can’t ping one in the top corner from 30 yards as he did in the Champions League semi final. It was a glorious, arcing strike on a night when Messi was at his imperious best. He scored his 50th free-kick this week against Valladolid. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
    Lionel Messi, Barcelona v Liverpool, May 2019: He may be small but it doesn’t mean the Argentine can’t ping one in the top corner from 30 yards as he did in the Champions League semi final. It was a glorious, arcing strike on a night when Messi was at his imperious best. He scored his 50th free-kick this week against Valladolid. Liverpool FC via Getty Images
  • Teofilo Cubillas, Peru v Scotland, June 1978: Truly one from the archives and a World Cup classic, yet it still feels so unique. The set piece was right on the edge of the penalty area and instead of an instep-curler over the wall, Cubillas went for an outside of the foot curler around the wall at the near post and it looked effortless. Beautiful. Great kit too. AP Photo
    Teofilo Cubillas, Peru v Scotland, June 1978: Truly one from the archives and a World Cup classic, yet it still feels so unique. The set piece was right on the edge of the penalty area and instead of an instep-curler over the wall, Cubillas went for an outside of the foot curler around the wall at the near post and it looked effortless. Beautiful. Great kit too. AP Photo
  • Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United v Portsmouth, January 2008: These were the early days of the knuckle-ball shot where the striker used the laces rather than curving with the instep. Many went straight into the crowd, but this one was utter perfection with no spin whatsoever imparted as it flew past David James in goal. Manchester United via Getty Images
    Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United v Portsmouth, January 2008: These were the early days of the knuckle-ball shot where the striker used the laces rather than curving with the instep. Many went straight into the crowd, but this one was utter perfection with no spin whatsoever imparted as it flew past David James in goal. Manchester United via Getty Images
  • David Beckham, England v Greece, October 2001: England needed a draw to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and were surprisingly losing as Beckham stood over the ball in the 93rd minute. It was this moment that turned him into a national hero as he unleashed one of his trademark, bending set-pieces into the top corner and caused utter pandemonium around the country. Bend it like Beckham indeed. Reuters
    David Beckham, England v Greece, October 2001: England needed a draw to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and were surprisingly losing as Beckham stood over the ball in the 93rd minute. It was this moment that turned him into a national hero as he unleashed one of his trademark, bending set-pieces into the top corner and caused utter pandemonium around the country. Bend it like Beckham indeed. Reuters
  • Ronaldinho, Brazil v England, June 2002: Fluke or deliberate? He says he meant to lob David Seaman in the World Cup quarter final (not the first time that had happened to the keeper in a big match), and debate rumbled on for years. He was 10 yards from the touchline, and about 40 yards from goal when he sailed the ball high enough to clear Seaman, and with enough dip to tuck in under the crossbar. Getty Images
    Ronaldinho, Brazil v England, June 2002: Fluke or deliberate? He says he meant to lob David Seaman in the World Cup quarter final (not the first time that had happened to the keeper in a big match), and debate rumbled on for years. He was 10 yards from the touchline, and about 40 yards from goal when he sailed the ball high enough to clear Seaman, and with enough dip to tuck in under the crossbar. Getty Images
  • Roberto Carlos, Brazil v France, 1997: The free kick that seemingly defied the laws of physics. Everyone knew about Carlos’s hammer of a left foot but in this instance he added extraterrestrial swerve to send the ball around the wall rather than over it with the outside of his boot. It was dramatic in every respect – especially with his 20-yard run up. Boom. Getty Images
    Roberto Carlos, Brazil v France, 1997: The free kick that seemingly defied the laws of physics. Everyone knew about Carlos’s hammer of a left foot but in this instance he added extraterrestrial swerve to send the ball around the wall rather than over it with the outside of his boot. It was dramatic in every respect – especially with his 20-yard run up. Boom. Getty Images
  • Paul Gascoigne, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, April, 1991: This was Gazza at his best before injury decimated his career. The balls were heavier in those days and he was 30 yards out at Wembley with David Seaman and a wall in his way. He drove it with both curve and venom into the top corner and typically went wild when it hit the back of the net during what was an FA Cup semi-final. PA Images via Getty Images
    Paul Gascoigne, Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, April, 1991: This was Gazza at his best before injury decimated his career. The balls were heavier in those days and he was 30 yards out at Wembley with David Seaman and a wall in his way. He drove it with both curve and venom into the top corner and typically went wild when it hit the back of the net during what was an FA Cup semi-final. PA Images via Getty Images
  • Ronald Koeman, Barcelona v Sampdoria, 1992: Stages don’t get much bigger than this – the European Cup final. And Koeman’s thunder-foot provided the only goal of the game. Watching it again, it should never have been a free-kick in the first place, but the Dutchman made the most of the opportunity with a blistering drive despite hardly any run-up. Getty Images
    Ronald Koeman, Barcelona v Sampdoria, 1992: Stages don’t get much bigger than this – the European Cup final. And Koeman’s thunder-foot provided the only goal of the game. Watching it again, it should never have been a free-kick in the first place, but the Dutchman made the most of the opportunity with a blistering drive despite hardly any run-up. Getty Images
  • Ronald Koeman, Holland v England, October, 1993: Him again. One of the lowest points of England’s international football history as their hopes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup were left in tatters. Koeman took centre stage. A duffed first free kick was allowed to be retaken and he made no mistake the second time around with the most deft falling leaf chip over the wall you are ever likely to see. Koeman later avoided one of the most blatant red card fouls football has seen. Did England not like that. Colorsport / Shutterstock
    Ronald Koeman, Holland v England, October, 1993: Him again. One of the lowest points of England’s international football history as their hopes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup were left in tatters. Koeman took centre stage. A duffed first free kick was allowed to be retaken and he made no mistake the second time around with the most deft falling leaf chip over the wall you are ever likely to see. Koeman later avoided one of the most blatant red card fouls football has seen. Did England not like that. Colorsport / Shutterstock

Football

Marcus Rashford, Lionel Messi and the 10 most legendary free-kicks

The Manchester United striker scored arguably one of the greatest set-pieces against Chelsea on Wednesday night. See some of the other most talked about strikes below

Ian Oxborrow
Ian Oxborrow

October 31, 2019

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Dipping, swerving, flying, swaying. Will we see a better free-kick in 2019 than Marcus Rashford’s thunderbolt for Manchester United against Chelsea? Have we ever seen a better free-kick?

The England striker fired United into the quarter-final of the League Cup on Wednesday with a brace in their 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

But rather than United's return to form, much of the focus has been on Rashford's wonder goal.

The goal came a day before Rashford's 22nd birthday, and he tweeted afterwards that he "always opens at least one present the night before", and questioned whether it was his (or everyone else's) new favourite goal.

Having brought back memories of Cristiano Ronaldo's famous strike for United against Portsmouth in 2008, we selected the most memorable free-kicks from years gone by in the slideshow at the top of the page.

Of course, there have been so many incredible free-kicks and an honourable mention should go to set-piece experts such as Andrea Pirlo, Juninho Pernambucano, Alvaro Recoba, who all regularly hit the back of the net from distance.

Rashford's strike meanwhile had his teammates purring on social media.

Victor Lindelof suggested he'd seen that kind of strike before, alluding to Ronaldo...

Welsh winger Daniel James referred to Rashford as the GOAT (greatest of all time)...

The official Manchester United twitter account highlighted the reaction of James after he saw the ball go in.

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Chelsea 1 Manchester 2 - in pictures

  • Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal. AFP
    Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal. AFP
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores his stunning second goal. Reuters
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores his stunning second goal. Reuters
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after the match. Reuters
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after the match. Reuters
  • Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero of Chelsea makes a save. Getty
    Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero of Chelsea makes a save. Getty
  • Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, left, and his Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard share a joke. AFP
    Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, left, and his Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard share a joke. AFP
  • Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi, left, celebrates after scoring for Chelsea. Reuters
    Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi, left, celebrates after scoring for Chelsea. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero (R) and Manchester United's Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo gesture at the final whistle during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 30, 2019. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
    Manchester United's Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero (R) and Manchester United's Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo gesture at the final whistle during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 30, 2019. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford after the match. AFP
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford after the match. AFP
  • Michy Batshuayi scores for Chelsea. Reuters
    Michy Batshuayi scores for Chelsea. Reuters
  • Chelsea's Mason Mount. AP
    Chelsea's Mason Mount. AP
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP
  • Manchester United's Harry Maguire, left, and Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea. Reuters
    Manchester United's Harry Maguire, left, and Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea. Reuters
  • Chelsea's Marcos Alonso shoots under pressure from Harry Maguire of Manchester United. Getty
    Chelsea's Marcos Alonso shoots under pressure from Harry Maguire of Manchester United. Getty
  • Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his second goal. AFP
    Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his second goal. AFP
  • Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi reacts after missing a chance. Reuters
    Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi reacts after missing a chance. Reuters
  • Chelsea's manager Frank Lampard. AFP
    Chelsea's manager Frank Lampard. AFP
  • Manchester United's Daniel James, left, battles for possession with Reece James. Reuters
    Manchester United's Daniel James, left, battles for possession with Reece James. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Brandon Williams beats Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea to a header. Reuters
    Manchester United's Brandon Williams beats Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea to a header. Reuters
  • Manchester United's Daniel James, left, goes on the attack. Reuters
    Manchester United's Daniel James, left, goes on the attack. Reuters
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