Declan Rice’s free kicks were both extra special but Shunsuke Nakamura’s against Manchester United remains the best ever free kick in the Champions League…
Declan’s Double
Declan Rice of Arsenal scored a cracking brace of free kicks in the Gunners Champions League rout of Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night, and it had more than a few folk suggesting that it was the two best free kicks ever seen in one game of football.
Did someone mention two free-kicks in one game? 🎯 pic.twitter.com/p6HGcPYtsH
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) April 10, 2025
Griffiths at the double against England
Whilst Leigh Griffiths might have something to say about that, there’s one thing we can all agree on, neither of the England international Rice’s efforts come close to Shunsuke Nakamura’s cracker at Celtic Park back in 2006 against Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-star Man United side.
Naka’s goal against Man Utd tops the lot
Naka was a sublime dead ball expert, possibly the best our domestic game has ever seen, and his sublime strike that November night against Manchester United ranks as perhaps the greatest free kick effort in Champions League history. And remember he too did it twice against Manchester United with the other one coming at Old Trafford.
🗓 21st November 2006
Celtic 1 Man Utd 0
Nakamura and Boruc the heroes to send Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League 🍀 pic.twitter.com/2J5M3bQWmh
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) November 21, 2024
Nakamura beat a top quality keeper in Edwin Van Der Sar with a ferocious shot with that talented left peg, a considerable distance from goal in a moment of sheer magic that will be forever remembered, and not just by the Celtic supporters.
Rice’s goals were top quality especially the brilliant second strike which I roundly applauded, but Naka’s effort will take some beating for me.
And since we are talking about Naka’s free kicks, remember him winning the league for us against Kilmarnock with this beauty deep into stoppage time?
‘If anyone can do it, he can.’ Nakamura with a title winning free kick at Kilmarnock. Great to see Tommy Burns and Strachan enjoying the moment there. pic.twitter.com/FvDHtn2rhQ
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) May 13, 2024
What a wonderful player The King of Japan was for Celtic.
Here are the two Declan Rice free kicks against Real Madrid for comparison. Tell us what you think?
Bend it like Decs 💫 pic.twitter.com/CS4XfPZKDf
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 10, 2025
12 minutes later. Declan Rice dropped the sequel. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Uy4TQJ3VPV
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 10, 2025
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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