Despite some recent examples, such as Julián Álvarez’s free-kick goals – the last in the derby against Real Madrid -, Dominik Szoboszlai’s for Liverpool against Arsenal or Antoine Semenyo’s for Bournemouth, free kick goals have become a rarity in today’s football.
Every time a spectacular goal appears, such as Declan Rice’s double with Arsenal from a free kick, in the quarter-finals of the last Champions League against Real Madrid, or the two goals by Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo with Bayern Leverkusen against Eintracht Frankfurt, on September 12 of this same year, it surprises the fan because these types of actions are becoming less frequent.
In modern football, free kicks are no longer a recurring scoring opportunity. Power or shot placement is no longer enough. The execution is more studied than ever, goalkeepers analyze patterns and defenses optimize their barriers. The collective strategy weighs as much as the individual skill of the thrower, and many coaches prioritize rehearsed plays or crosses into the area over a direct shot.
The fall of direct free kicks
The data clearly reflects the trend of decreasing free throws. This season, there have only been four free-kick goals in LaLiga (two from Julián Álvarez, Rafa Mir and Carlos Álvarez).
Last season 19 were achieved, but in 2023/24 there were only 8, in 2022/23 there were 13, and in 2021/22 and 2020/21 they remained at 9 and 15, respectively.
Figures very far from those recorded between 2015/16 and 2019/20, when each season there were more than 25 goals from direct free kicks, with peaks of 34 in 2016/17 and 33 in 2019/20.
The departure of specialists such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi directly influenced this collapse due to the absence of great shooters, as well as the fact that fewer fouls are called near the area.
According to Opta data, in 2013/14, 536 fouls were taken in the First Division; in 2016/17, 497 and in 2023/24 the figure fell to 335, almost 200 less. The percentage of success has also decreased: from around 7.5% in some courses, today it barely reaches 5%.
Referees play a role in this change. With more tolerant criteria and the support of the VAR to sanction only clear actions, direct free kick opportunities are reduced. Furthermore, the game itself has evolved towards more possession and fewer interruptions near the rival area.
A global trend
What happens in Spain is replicated in the rest of the major European leagues. In England, the data is even more striking: between 2000/01 and 2009/10, 321 direct free kick goals were scored in the Premier – with an average of 32 per season – with a peak of 41 in 2007/2008.
In the following decade the figure fell to 272 (27 per season), and since 2020/21, the annual average has plummeted to 14.8 goals, with only eleven in 2023/24, the lowest record since 1997/1998 and with 13 in 2024/2025.
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In Italy, from the 38 free-kick goals in 2015/2016, 36 in 2017/2018 or 28 in 2019/2020, it has gone up to 18 in 2023/2024 and just 13 in 2024/2025, with only two so far this year.
Germany shows a similar pattern: from 39 goals in 2014/15 or 25 in 2016/17 it has dropped to 18 in 2024/25, although with a positive start of 7 goals in the first five games.
In France, where 30 were seen in 2014/15 and up to 29 in 2016/17, the recent figures are much lower: 11 in 2023/24 and none yet so far in 2024/25.
The absence of specialists
Another key factor is the lack of specialists. In the past, players like Juninho Pernambucano, Beckham, Roberto Carlos, Marcos Assuncao, Messi and Cristiano accumulated dozens of free-kick goals throughout their careers.
Today, few footballers stand out for that virtue. In LaLiga, perhaps Julián Álvarez is the only one with some continuity, but neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona have a permanent pitcher.
In the Premier, James Ward-Prowse has been the great reference in recent years, with 17 goals in 137 attempts (12.4% success rate). However, he has not scored from a free kick since February 2023 and has not managed to reach Beckham’s record.
Other names such as Kieran Trippier or Bruno Fernandes appear as exceptions in a context where the set piece is no longer a differential resource.
In the Bundesliga, Alejandro Grimaldo is one of the few references: no player in the five major leagues has scored more goals from direct free kicks (7) since he arrived at Leverkusen in 2023, including the two he scored in the same match against Eintracht.
The evolution of goalkeepers and barriers
The advancement of defensive preparation has also played a fundamental role. Today’s goaltenders are taller, more agile, and have extensive data studies on shooters.
They analyze routines, trajectories and even career patterns. In addition, defensive barriers have evolved: the famous “lying man” is now included to stop low shots, and positions are precisely adjusted to reduce shooting angles.
This greater defensive efficiency, added to the scarcity of pure kickers and the lower number of fouls called, explains why direct free kick goals have become an endangered species in modern football.
With information from EFE.
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