Known for his incredible “knuckleball” technique, Juninho Pernambucano had a unique way of hitting the ball that made it curve or dip unpredictably, leaving goalkeepers guessing and often beaten. For Juninho’s teammates, a free-kick chance felt as sure as a penalty.
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In case you missed him play or have a bout of nostalgia, here are 5 freekick goals by the Brazilian legend.
Top Freekick Goals by Juninho
1. Barcelona, 2009 Champions League:
Juninho mastered a 30-yard strike at the Nou Camp, curling the ball over the wall into the top corner, leaving the keeper stationary.
24 février 2009 : @Juninhope08 s'illustrait avec ce merveilleux coup franc face à Barcelone en @ChampionsLeague ! ☄
Quel est votre coup franc préféré de Juninho ? 💥#OLRetro pic.twitter.com/ePdwlRNolU
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) February 24, 2021
2. Bayern Munich, 2003 Champions League:
From 35 yards, his free-kick soared past Oliver Kahn, dipping under the bar in a display of both power and precision.
Juninho Pernambucano scoring this stunning free kick for Lyon against Bayern Munich pic.twitter.com/q2LZHoFgTK
— Former Footballers (@FinishedPlayers) January 8, 2024
3. Real Madrid, 2005 Champions League:
He curved a shot around the wall from 25 yards, beating the Real Madrid goalkeeper with style.
Quand Juninho ❤️💙 détruisez le réal Madrid pic.twitter.com/7wvmqrgqwL
— Gones💫 (@Gonesenforce) August 22, 2023
4. Werder Bremen, 2005 Champions League:
This knockout stage goal came from a sharp angle and great distance, its unpredictable flight path securing Lyon a crucial win.
🇧🇷 Juninho Pernambucano 🎯#UCL | @OL pic.twitter.com/1Un6pPpMDS
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 12, 2019
5. Lyon vs. AC Ajaccio, March 2006 –
Juninho launched a remarkable free-kick from 40 yards out and the goalkeeper misjudged the flight of the ball.
𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆 𝒍'𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 🎄 @Ligue1UberEats
En ce 5⃣ décembre on vous offre certainement l'une des plus belles "pralines" de notre championnat ! Un coup franc de 40 m du maître Juninho 🇧🇷#Ligue1Legends pic.twitter.com/qhlWa2smh6
— Ligue 1 McDonald's (@Ligue1) December 5, 2021
Juninho’s reputation as a free-kick specialist is built on more than just goal tallies; it’s his ability to turn set-pieces into spectacles. Every time he lined up a shot, anticipation filled the air.
This is why he dominates the list of freekick goals above the best football players in history.
Most free-kick goals in football history
Here’s the list of players with the most free-kick goals in football history, along with their goal counts:
- Juninho Pernambucano – 77 goals
- Pelé – 70 goals
- Victor Antonio Legrotaglie – 66 goals
- Ronaldinho – 66 goals
- Lionel Messi – 65 goals
- David Beckham – 65 goals
- Cristiano Ronaldo – 63 goals
- Diego Maradona – 62 goals
- Zico – 62 goals
- Ronald Koeman- 60 goals
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
