World Football: Who Takes The Best Free Kicks?

This question hit me recently, "Who takes the best free kicks?" My mind explored numerous options, Juninho?

Juninho is absolutely brilliant with free kicks and he has shown the world over and over again scoring some absolute screamers with Lyon and Brazil, but is he the best there is?

Obviously, I'm looking at the present era but the question is who is good enough to be compared to the retired greats who were the best at taking free kicks.

In the era of Puskas, Rivelino, Platini, Koeman, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Maradona, Assuncao and Van Hooijdonk they were undoubtedly the greatest free kick takers ever but who in today's world can match them?

David Beckham, anybody? "Bend it like Beckham". I have to admit, I admire David Beckham's ability to score those amazing curling free kicks which he has done for Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and England.

Michael Ballack? He could be another contender. The former Bayern Munich hitman has been plying his trade for Chelsea recently and has scored some brilliant goals for them as well. Ballack recently scored an incredible free kick goal against Austria at Euro 2008.

Steven Gerrard? The Liverpool skipper has formed a brilliant partnership with Fernando Torres at Anfield, but his ability to score from free kicks is unique. Has everybody forgotten about his thunderous free kick against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, was it? Anyway, is Gerrard capable or deserving of being compared to the greatest free kick takers of all time?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Mr The Future Nobody Knows? Well, one thing is for sure, the goal keeper never knows what the future holds for him when Ronaldo steps up to take a free kick. Forget his Real Madrid controversy, this boy has a very "one of a kind" ability to score from free kicks. I realize that more often then not, he charges up and hits the wall but when it does come off, you can't help but watch it over and over again.

Who can forget his goals against Portsmouth, this season and last season. Ronaldo scored a free kick against the Europe XI last season which led Santiago Canizares to saying "he is unstoppable." Needless to say, if Manchester United lose him to Real Madrid, they will lose one of the best free kick takers in the world today, but does he have it in him to be compared to the best of all time?

Andrea Pirlo, the Italian Job? Ask any AC Milan supporter and they would tell you, Pirlo is absolutely incredible when it comes to taking free kicks. His ability to surprise goal keepers is a trademark of his play. Do you think this Italian hot-shot can be compared to the greats?

There are others as well, Roberto Carlos (his free kick against France, anyone?), Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie, Frank Lampard, David Villa, Theirry Henry, Francesso Totti, Ronaldinho, Xavi, Gamst Pedersen, Shunshuke Nakamura and Del Piero to name a few.

Who do you think is the best free kick taker in the world today? Which one of these can be compared to the greats of all time?