VIDEO SPECIAL: How does Ronaldinho's Pompey rocket rank alongside the greatest free kicks ever scored?

By Mark Lawford
Updated:

Six minutes on the clock, Portsmouth 2-0 up and on course for a UEFA Cup giant-killing against the mighty Milanese. Then up steps Ronaldinho for a set-piece just outside the box. No worries. He's a busted flush, isn't he? Oh. Apparently not.

The Brazil forward produced one of his finest free-kicks to put AC Milan on course to break Portsmouth's hearts - completed when Filippo Inzaghi pounced in injury-time.

Fratton Park team's new first-team coach Johnny Metgod must have looked on enviously - the Dutchman made his name hitting a thunderbolt free-kick for Nottingham Forest against West Ham in 1986.

VIDEO: Heartbreaker Ronaldinho...

VIDEO: Johnny be good

Pompey players can look forward to plenty of deadball action - just pray you're not in the wall if he's in a bad mood and wants to give a practical demonstration.

Parkes

Moptop: Parkes

He scored 60 goals as a defender and it's not surprising considering his much-feted thunderbolt against West Ham in 1986.

Yes, you could argue that Cossack hairspray model Phil Parkes, the Hammers keeper at the time, suffered with hair in his eyes.

Not a problem Metgod suffered with but those who argue Parkes should have saved the shot should look at the trajectory of the ball.

It's still rising as it almost breaks the crossbar.

The best free-kick of all time. Or was it?

Sportsmail rounded up its crack team of journalists and squeezed their memories out of them to establish just what was the greatest.

So here is the definitive list. There are none better. Anywhere.

Unless, of course, you can think of one and e-mail it to the greatest free-kicks ever.

Roberto Carlos for Brazil v France at Le Tournoi in 1997

The free kick looked as if it was heading in the same direction as most of his - somewhere towards the corner flag, then it suddenly changed direction and curled into the net, kissing the post on its way past Fabien Barthez.

VIDEO: A proper banana shot


David Beckham's versus Greece is worth a mention and Jamie Redknapp's dramatic goal for Liverpool on the day Blackburn won the title. It sent them to defeat, but West Ham held Manchester United at Upton Park.

Lee Clayton, sports editor

Arie Haan, Holland v Italy, 1978 World Cup

Strictly speaking this shouldn't count. But has to be included just to give people an excuse to look at it on youtube again. Dutchman Haan had already scored from long range against West Germany in an earlier round but saved his most preposterous effort to break the deadlock in this semi-final of yesteryear.

Taking possession from a short free-kick (you see, that's why it shouldn't really count), Haan moved the ball out from his feet and drilled it from fully 40 yards past Italian legend Dino Zoff and in to the top corner.

Ian Ladyman, football writer

VIDEO: Metgod who? This is how a Dutchman should hit a ball

Spurs v Manchester United, League Cup 1979

One of those rare occasions where a routine 'made on the training ground' works perfectly in a match. It begins with a free-kick on United's left, rolled forward by Wales skipper Terry Yorath to Glenn Hoddle, standing with his back to goal in front of a two-man wall.

The England man flicks the ball to his right where Ossie Ardiles chips it first time over the defensive wall, just as Hoddle swivels to his left and runs behind the wall. As the ball drops Hoddle cracks a waist-high volley straight past Gary Bailey into the top left corner of the goal. An 'I was there' moment, and luckily I was, right in line with Hoddle's searing shot. Unforgettable.

Richard Weekes, sports night editor

VIDEO: The foot of Hod

Leeds v Charlton, 1987

It's 1987. I'm still to reach puberty. Football has still to become sexy. But there's still room for a little professional mischief from Leeds' graceful, midfield genius John Sheridan.

It had been a decent Leeds United season - by Elland Road's recent standards. An FA Cup semi-final defeat to eventual winners Coventry and a Second Division Play-off defeat to Charlton - which United completely bossed after the two-legged affair went to a replay.... and then extra-time.

Leeds even took the lead in the 99th minute, before eventually losing 2-1 at St Andrews, when Sheridan strolled up to the ball - pretending to point instructions at team-mates, the little scamp - then from a short run-up, caressed the ball around the wall and in off the crossbar. A wonderful free-kick from a wonderfully gifted playmaker.

Shame we lost, mind.

Mark Alford, Sportsmail Online

VIDEO: A Leed-ing role and a drop of Sheridans

David Beckham, England v Colombia, France '98

Dropped, then recalled, by manager Glenn Hoddle, David Beckham had a point to prove against Colombia in Lens.

And with England needing a win to qualify for the group stages, it was time to step up to the plate, or rather the free-kick, perfectly-positioned as it was for the nation's rising superstar, just outside the box.

Cue his trademark angled run-up, and a curling shot flying into the roof of the net - his first for his country. England 2 Colombia 0 - we were through!

Unfortunately for Golden Balls, so were Argentina...

Richard Copeman, deputy sports editor

VIDEO: I'm Beck - but not for long!



John Buchanan, Northampton v Tranmere, 1981

Back in the 1981-82 season, Northampton Town were rubbish but had a free-kick genius in Gary Saxby.

Yes, they finished third bottom of Division 4 but Buchanan's real moment of glory came against Tranmere after the Cobblers had trailed 2-0 at half-time.

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Buchanan

Hit-man: Buchanan

Late in the game, with not many of us huddled behind the goal at the pub end of the County Ground, Buchanan curled a beauty right into the top corner past bemused keeper Endersby to complete an amazing 3-2 win.

It was a free kick that had the lot - accuracy, swerve, pace and bend. Totally out of place in a near-deserted cricket ground under floodlights that would not have even have brightened up a broom cupboard. But what a goal.

VIDEO: None available. This match was played in black and white

Mark Lawford, Sportsmail Online

Teofilo Cubillas Peru v Scotland 1978 World Cup

Fantastic technique from Peruvian legend Teofillo Cubillas. With the ball placed just outside the Scotland penalty area slightly wide of Alan Rough's right-hand post Cubillas runs straight on to the ball.

With the outside of the midfielder's right boot the shot is hit with curl and pace past Rough's despairing dive. And this in the day before Cristiano Ronaldo taught the world how to take a spot kick. One of ten goals Cubillas scored in his three World Cup finals.

Peter Chayney, Sportsmail Online

VIDEO: Outside of the box and outside of the boot




Zinedine Zidane, France v England, Euro 2004

'England haven't played very well in the second half, but they have defended brilliantly, they have defended so well... we have had 11 heroes on the pitch. Can we now survive?' asks ITV co-commentator Bobby Robson, just as that genius Zinedine Zidane is placing the ball for a free-kick in the 91st minute of their absorbing group game.

Seconds later, he has beaten David James all ends up with a free-kick stunning in its execution. Minutes later, he scores from the spot to win it for France. Best player in the history of the game.

Neil Ashton, football writer

VIDEO: Outside of the box and outside of the boot


Javier Zanetti, Argentina v England, World Cup 98

We're all gasping over THAT goal from Michael Owen and delighted that England have recovered from going a goal down to 2-1 up. Yes, the free-kick was illegally won, but yes, what a training ground as leaden-footed England defenders wade in lumpy custard in a vain bid to stop Zanetti executing the near-perfect goal.

Jerry Hayes, deputy chief sub editor

VIDEO: Outside of the box and outside of the boot



Kevin Sheedy, Everton v Luton FA Cup, 1984

For shear wow factor, Roberto Carlos's viciously swerving 30-yard free-kick against France in Le Tournoi was memorable and for relief it has to be David Beckham's saving grace of a goal in the World Cup qualifier against Greece.

But my all-time favourite is Kevin Sheedy's last-gasp equaliser for Everton against Luton Town in the 1984 FA Cup semi-final. Not the most spectacular but one that triggered a lot of excitement for a young fan. Nearly as much as Derek Mountfield's winner. 

Simon Jones, northern sports news editor

VIDEO: Long live King Kevin


Alan Shearer, Newcastle v Wimbledon 1996

Roberto Carlos's incredible mind-bending, ball-swerving free-kick against England France always stands out because no one had moved a shot like it in mid-air.

Regularly covering the North East for more than a decade, I've seen experts like Ginola, Robert, Arca, Juninho, Alves, Richardson. But for impact and the occasion, I'll choose Alan Shearer's first Newcastle goal at St James's Park in 1996 , a thunderous shot which tore through the Wimbledon wall and almost broke the net.

Mind you they all pale into significance compared to the late minute winner I slotted over the wall and into the top corner for Riccall County Primary to beat Stamford Bridge in the Escrick Cup semi-final in 1981. My dad still says it was the best goal he's ever seen.

Colin Young, football writer

VIDEO: Shearer & Co hammer home the goal for the Magpies



Paul Gascoigne, Tottenham v Arsenal 1991 FA Cup semi-final

A packed Wembley, Arsenal on their way to a second League title in three seasons and Spurs fans still coming to terms with the imminent departure of the talismanic midfielder Paul Gascoigne to Lazio.

So what better way for the white half of North London to celebrate robbing the red ones of their double than Gazza to sign off with the sort of screamer only normally seen in cartoons. Quite simply the greatest free-kick ever. There's no debate. Close the book now.

Tim Nichols, deputy sports news editor

VIDEO: Gazza's crowning glory with commentary to match


Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United v Portsmouth 2008

Fergie hailed it as the best ever.  The Portugal wizard defied the laws of physics with a 25-yard wonder strike which swerved, dipped and flew into the top corner. The bemused reaction of keeper David James and the Pompey defenders says it all.

Dave Wood, Sportsmail Online

VIDEO: Maybe David James could have done better with this one...



Ernie Hunt and Willie Carr, Coventry City 1970

The only one of its kind because the authorities banned the donkey kick hours after this caused ripples in the world of football.

Carr got the ball and... well just watch it. It certainly upset the snug-shirted Everton defence and gave commentator Barry Davies another goal-den moment.

VIDEO: They're no donkeys but they pack a two-footed kick


Davie Cooper, Rangers v Aberdeen 1987

Davie Cooper could do anything with his his left foot and in the 1987 Skol Cup Final against Aberdeen the Rangers winger decided to go for pure power with a free-kick on the edge of the box. Cooper's shot hit the top corner like a bullet and the ball was already rolling down the back of the net when Jim Leighton, Scotland's goalkeeper at the time, dived to try to keep it out.

Rangers won the cup on penalties after an hugely-entertaining 3-3 draw but Cooper's goal is the one that sticks in the memory. One of the most gifted Scottish players of all time, Cooper died of a brain haemorrhage in 1995 aged 39.

Brian Lee, Sportsmail Online

VIDEO: Sheer class from a truly great player (unlike the flickery video)


David Beckham, England v Greece 2001

Just a month or so after 9/11 and not too many minds were on football as we all waited for the world to end. And the memory of the 'don't mention the score' Munich 5-1 mauling just a few weeks earlier was a dim and distant memory as Greece led 2-1 to deny England a place at the 2002 World Cup Finals.

Step up captain fantastic David Beckham, who, to be fair, had been playing the Greeks virtually single-handed for much of the game. Injury time was almost up, Sven's planned trip to his favourite Korean haunts was about to be put on ice. And then Becks did this, England breathed a sigh of relief and there was no dancing in the streets in Scotland.

VIDEO: How many hairs stand up on your neck when you see this?







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