Setpiecetakers.com looks at each MLS club’s designated free-kick takers. Who takes free kicks for D.C. United, Colorado Rapids, or Real Salt Lake?
The 2025 MLS season is ablaze with electrifying goals, tactical battles, and moments of pure skill. But lurking beneath the surface lies a hidden world, where set pieces reign supreme – the domain of free-kick wizards.
These maestros of dead-ball situations wield their precision and power to carve open defenses, delivering game-changing opportunities and moments of magic.
Often overlooked, their impact on the pitch is undeniable, shaping the tides of matches and leaving opponents scrambling. So, buckle up and prepare to delve into the fascinating world of MLS set-piece specialists, where a single touch can unlock the door to victory.
Table of Contents
This blog post delves into the world of free-kick takers MLS in the 2025 season, providing a detailed overview of the teams and players who have been pivotal in this aspect of the game.
Free-Kick Takers MLS 2025
If you are a follower of Major League Soccer, you know the excellent importance free-kick takers have in the MLS league. They can decide the result of a game or even the title race.
Nevertheless, do you know who the top free-kick takers are in Major League Soccer? This blog post will expose the answers to these inquiries and others, using our table of free-kickers in North America’s strongest football league.
| MLS | Total | 4451 | 8.6% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Player | Free Kicks | % of Team |
| Philadelphia Union | Kai Wagner | 143 | 75.3% |
| Charlotte | Ashley Westwood | 106 | 63.9% |
| NE Revolution | Carles Gil | 104 | 58.8% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Sebastian Berhalter | 99 | 62.3% |
| Houston Dynamo | Jack McGlynn | 95 | 61.7% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Cristian Espinoza | 91 | 43.5% |
| NY Red Bulls | Emil Forsberg | 72 | 54.5% |
| St. Louis | Marcel Hartel | 69 | 44.8% |
| Seattle Sounders | Albert Rusnák | 68 | 51.9% |
| Colorado Rapids | Djordje Mihailovic | 66 | 36.5% |
| FC Cincinnati | Evander | 66 | 62.3% |
| NYCFC | Maximiliano Moralez | 64 | 50.0% |
| St. Louis | Eduard Löwen | 63 | 40.9% |
| San Diego FC | Anders Dreyer | 61 | 39.1% |
| Minnesota Utd | Joaquín Pereyra | 60 | 56.6% |
| Austin | Owen Wolff | 59 | 49.6% |
| CF Montréal | Brandan Craig | 57 | 26.9% |
| Chicago Fire | Philip Zinckernagel | 55 | 39.9% |
| D.C. United | Aaron Herrera | 54 | 28.1% |
| Toronto FC | Alonso Coello | 54 | 35.8% |
| Columbus Crew | Dylan Chambost | 54 | 46.2% |
| Sporting KC | Jacob Bartlett | 53 | 27.7% |
| Real Salt Lake | Brayan Vera | 51 | 23.4% |
| FC Dallas | Luciano Acosta | 51 | 33.3% |
| Orlando City | Martín Ojeda | 47 | 40.2% |
| Real Salt Lake | Diego Luna | 44 | 20.2% |
| Toronto FC | Jonathan Osorio | 44 | 29.1% |
| Nashville SC | Hany Mukhtar | 42 | 46.2% |
| Real Salt Lake | Alexandros Katranis | 41 | 18.8% |
| LA Galaxy | Diego Fagúndez | 41 | 30.4% |
| Inter Miami | Jordi Alba | 41 | 28.5% |
| San Diego FC | Luca Bombino | 41 | 26.3% |
| Inter Miami | Lionel Messi | 39 | 27.1% |
| Orlando City | Eduard Atuesta | 38 | 32.5% |
| Nashville SC | Edvard Sandvik Tagseth | 36 | 39.6% |
| CF Montréal | Victor Loturi | 36 | 17.0% |
| FC Dallas | Patrickson Delgado | 35 | 22.9% |
| Colorado Rapids | Connor Ronan | 34 | 18.8% |
| LAFC | Denis Bouanga | 32 | 32.0% |
| LA Galaxy | Gabriel Chaves | 32 | 23.7% |
| NE Revolution | Ilay Feingold | 32 | 18.1% |
| Sporting KC | Jake Davis | 32 | 16.8% |
| Real Salt Lake | Noel Caliskan | 32 | 14.7% |
| Colorado Rapids | Cole Bassett | 31 | 17.1% |
| Atlanta Utd | Aleksei Miranchuk | 30 | 25.9% |
| LAFC | Timmy Tillman | 30 | 30.0% |
| D.C. United | David Schnegg | 29 | 15.1% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Ian Harkes | 28 | 13.4% |
| Portland Timbers | Juan David Mosquera | 28 | 25.9% |
| Inter Miami | Rodrigo De Paul | 27 | 18.8% |
| Seattle Sounders | João Paulo Mior | 26 | 19.8% |
| Sporting KC | Manu García | 26 | 13.6% |
| Portland Timbers | Santiago Moreno | 26 | 24.1% |
| San Diego FC | Hirving Lozano | 25 | 16.0% |
| D.C. United | Matti Peltola | 25 | 13.0% |
| Chicago Fire | Andrew Gutman | 24 | 17.4% |
| CF Montréal | Luca Petrasso | 24 | 11.3% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Pedro Vite | 24 | 15.1% |
| Austin | Daniel Pereira | 23 | 19.3% |
| LA Galaxy | Marco Reus | 23 | 17.0% |
| NY Red Bulls | Raheem Edwards | 23 | 17.4% |
| CF Montréal | Nathan Saliba | 22 | 10.4% |
| NYCFC | Aiden O’Neill | 21 | 16.4% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Beau Leroux | 21 | 10.0% |
| Minnesota Utd | Julian Gressel | 21 | 19.8% |
| Sporting KC | Magomed-Shapi Suleymanov | 21 | 11.0% |
| D.C. United | Peglow | 21 | 10.9% |
| CF Montréal | Tom Pearce | 21 | 9.9% |
| Charlotte | Wilfried Zaha | 21 | 12.7% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Cristian Arango | 20 | 9.6% |
| Portland Timbers | David Costa | 20 | 18.5% |
| Atlanta Utd | Miguel Almirón | 20 | 17.2% |
| Colorado Rapids | Sam Vines | 20 | 11.0% |
| FC Dallas | Sebastian Lletget | 20 | 13.1% |
| Atlanta Utd | Steven Alzate | 20 | 17.2% |
| Atlanta Utd | Brooks Lennon | 19 | 16.4% |
| Columbus Crew | Diego Rossi | 19 | 16.2% |
| CF Montréal | Dante Sealy | 18 | 8.5% |
| Toronto FC | Djordje Mihailovic | 18 | 11.9% |
| Inter Miami | Ian Fray | 18 | 12.5% |
| LA Galaxy | Isaiah Parente | 18 | 13.3% |
| Real Salt Lake | Pablo Ruíz | 18 | 8.3% |
| Charlotte | Pep Biel | 18 | 10.8% |
| Sporting KC | Tim Leibold | 18 | 9.4% |
| Chicago Fire | André Franco | 17 | 12.3% |
| St. Louis | Conrad Wallem | 17 | 11.0% |
| Minnesota Utd | Joseph Rosales | 17 | 16.0% |
| Columbus Crew | Max Arfsten | 17 | 14.5% |
| Philadelphia Union | Quinn Sullivan | 17 | 8.9% |
| Atlanta Utd | Ronald Hernández | 17 | 14.7% |
| Houston Dynamo | Amine Bassi | 16 | 10.4% |
| NE Revolution | Jackson Yueill | 16 | 9.0% |
| FC Cincinnati | Luca Orellano | 16 | 15.1% |
| Sporting KC | Memo Rodriguez | 16 | 8.4% |
| NY Red Bulls | Omar Valencia | 16 | 12.1% |
| FC Dallas | Shaq Moore | 16 | 10.5% |
| Austin | Besard Sabovic | 15 | 12.6% |
| Real Salt Lake | Diogo Gonçalves | 15 | 6.9% |
| Charlotte | Eryk Williamson | 15 | 9.0% |
| D.C. United | Jackson Hopkins | 15 | 7.8% |
| Philadelphia Union | Jesús Daniel Bueno | 15 | 7.9% |
| NYCFC | Nicolás Ezequiel Fernández | 15 | 11.7% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Ralph Priso-Mbongue | 15 | 9.4% |
| NY Red Bulls | Felipe Carballo | 14 | 10.6% |
| NYCFC | Julián Fernández | 14 | 10.9% |
| Houston Dynamo | Nicolás Lodeiro | 14 | 9.1% |
| Colorado Rapids | Oliver Larraz | 14 | 7.7% |
| FC Cincinnati | Pavel Bucha | 14 | 13.2% |
| Sporting KC | Zorhan Bassong | 14 | 7.3% |
| D.C. United | Brandon Servania | 13 | 6.8% |
| Chicago Fire | Brian Gutiérrez | 13 | 9.4% |
| Seattle Sounders | Danny Leyva | 13 | 9.9% |
| Toronto FC | Federico Bernardeschi | 13 | 8.6% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Jamar Ricketts | 13 | 6.2% |
| FC Dallas | Kaick | 13 | 8.5% |
| NE Revolution | Luca Langoni | 13 | 7.3% |
| Houston Dynamo | Ondřej Lingr | 13 | 8.4% |
| Real Salt Lake | Sam Junqua | 13 | 6.0% |
| CF Montréal | Bryce Duke | 12 | 5.7% |
| CF Montréal | Hennadii Synchuk | 12 | 5.7% |
| Seattle Sounders | Jesús Ferreira | 12 | 9.2% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Niko Tsakiris | 12 | 5.7% |
| Columbus Crew | Amar Sejdic | 11 | 9.4% |
| D.C. United | Boris Enow | 11 | 5.7% |
| Nashville SC | Bryan Acosta | 11 | 12.1% |
| Portland Timbers | Kristoffer Velde | 11 | 10.2% |
| Orlando City | Kyle Smith | 11 | 9.4% |
| Toronto FC | Lorenzo Insigne | 11 | 7.3% |
| Columbus Crew | Marcelo Herrera | 11 | 9.4% |
| Chicago Fire | Maren Haile-Selassie | 11 | 8.0% |
| Toronto FC | Matthew Longstaff | 11 | 7.3% |
| San Diego FC | Onni Valakari | 11 | 7.1% |
| FC Dallas | Pedrinho | 11 | 7.2% |
| Colorado Rapids | Rafael Santos | 11 | 6.1% |
| NE Revolution | Tomás Chancalay | 11 | 6.2% |
| Sporting KC | Erik Thommy | 10 | 5.2% |
| LAFC | Marky Delgado | 10 | 10.0% |
| D.C. United | Randall Leal | 10 | 5.2% |
| Atlanta Utd | Saba Lobzhanidze | 10 | 8.6% |
| Austin | Žan Kolmanič | 10 | 8.4% |
| Portland Timbers | Ian Smith | 9 | 8.3% |
| Philadelphia Union | Indiana Vassilev | 9 | 4.7% |
| Chicago Fire | Jonathan Bamba | 9 | 6.5% |
| Chicago Fire | Kellyn Acosta | 9 | 6.5% |
| LA Galaxy | Mauricio Cuevas | 9 | 6.7% |
| LAFC | Son Heung-min | 9 | 9.0% |
| Portland Timbers | Ariel Lassiter | 8 | 7.4% |
| SJ Earthquakes | DeJuan Jones | 8 | 3.8% |
| NYCFC | Hannes Wolf | 8 | 6.2% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Jean-Claude Ngando | 8 | 5.0% |
| LAFC | Cengiz Ünder | 7 | 7.0% |
| Orlando City | Dagur Dan Þórhallsson | 7 | 6.0% |
| Houston Dynamo | Griffin Dorsey | 7 | 4.5% |
| LA Galaxy | Joseph Paintsil | 7 | 5.2% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Ousseni Bouda | 7 | 3.3% |
| San Diego FC | Willy Kumado | 7 | 4.5% |
| Inter Miami | Ben Cremaschi | 6 | 4.2% |
| D.C. United | Gabriel Pirani | 6 | 3.1% |
| NYCFC | Jonathan Shore | 6 | 4.7% |
| Seattle Sounders | Paul Rothrock | 6 | 4.6% |
| Orlando City | Rafael Santos | 6 | 5.1% |
| Minnesota Utd | Robin Lod | 6 | 5.7% |
| Inter Miami | Telasco Segovia | 6 | 4.2% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Ali Ahmed | 5 | 3.1% |
| CF Montréal | Caden Clark | 5 | 2.4% |
| FC Dallas | Christian Cappis | 5 | 3.3% |
| St. Louis | Célio Pompeu | 5 | 3.2% |
| LAFC | David Martínez | 5 | 5.0% |
| FC Cincinnati | Gerardo Valenzuela | 5 | 4.7% |
| San Diego FC | Luca de la Torre | 5 | 3.2% |
| Orlando City | Luis Muriel | 5 | 4.3% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Paul Marie | 5 | 2.4% |
| Seattle Sounders | Pedro De la Vega | 5 | 3.8% |
| LA Galaxy | Tucker Lepley | 5 | 3.7% |
| LAFC | Artem Smoliakov | 4 | 4.0% |
| Columbus Crew | Aziel Jackson | 4 | 3.4% |
| Austin | Diego Rubio | 4 | 3.4% |
| Houston Dynamo | Duane Holmes | 4 | 2.6% |
| CF Montréal | Fabian Herbers | 4 | 1.9% |
| Charlotte | Harry Toffolo | 4 | 2.4% |
| SJ Earthquakes | Hernán López Muñoz | 4 | 1.9% |
| D.C. United | Jared Stroud | 4 | 2.1% |
| Portland Timbers | Matías Rojas | 4 | 3.7% |
| Philadelphia Union | Milan Iloski | 4 | 2.1% |
| D.C. United | Rida Zouhir | 4 | 2.1% |
| NY Red Bulls | Wikelman Carmona | 4 | 3.0% |
| FC Cincinnati | Yuya Kubo | 4 | 3.8% |
| San Diego FC | Amahl Pellegrino | 3 | 1.9% |
| LAFC | Javairô Dilrosun | 3 | 3.0% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Jayden Nelson | 3 | 1.9% |
| Real Salt Lake | Johnny Russell | 3 | 1.4% |
| Austin | Jáder Obrian | 3 | 2.5% |
| Orlando City | Marco Pašalić | 3 | 2.6% |
| San Diego FC | Milan Iloski | 3 | 1.9% |
| Austin | Osman Bukari | 3 | 2.5% |
| Colorado Rapids | Paxten Aaronson | 3 | 1.7% |
| Houston Dynamo | Sebastian Kowalczyk | 3 | 1.9% |
| Nashville SC | Ahmed Qasem | 2 | 2.2% |
| Inter Miami | Baltasar Rodríguez | 2 | 1.4% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Emmanuel Sabbi | 2 | 1.3% |
| Philadelphia Union | Jeremy Rafanello | 2 | 1.1% |
| Charlotte | Kerwin Vargas | 2 | 1.2% |
| Houston Dynamo | Lawrence Ennali | 2 | 1.3% |
| Inter Miami | Luis Suárez | 2 | 1.4% |
| Portland Timbers | Omir Fernandez | 2 | 1.9% |
| FC Dallas | Petar Musa | 2 | 1.3% |
| Colorado Rapids | Rafael Navarro | 2 | 1.1% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Ryan Gauld | 2 | 1.3% |
| Inter Miami | Tadeo Allende | 2 | 1.4% |
| Columbus Crew | Cole Mrowka | 1 | 0.9% |
| FC Cincinnati | Corey Baird | 1 | 0.9% |
| Minnesota Utd | Dominik Fitz | 1 | 0.9% |
| Sporting KC | Dániel Sallói | 1 | 0.5% |
| NY Red Bulls | Gustav Berggren | 1 | 0.8% |
| NE Revolution | Ignatius Ganago | 1 | 0.6% |
| CF Montréal | Ivan Jaime Pajuelo | 1 | 0.5% |
| Vancouver W’caps | Jackson Castro | 1 | 0.6% |
| Minnesota Utd | Jeong Sangbin | 1 | 0.9% |
| Real Salt Lake | Jesús Barea | 1 | 0.5% |
| NY Red Bulls | Marcelo Morales | 1 | 0.8% |
| NY Red Bulls | Mohammed Sofo | 1 | 0.8% |
| Austin | Myrto Uzuni | 1 | 0.8% |
| Austin | Robert Taylor | 1 | 0.8% |
| Seattle Sounders | Ryan Kent | 1 | 0.8% |
| Inter Miami | Santi Morales | 1 | 0.7% |
| Last Updated: | 30/11/2025 |
Why You Can Trust Our Setpiece Takers Data
At SetPieceTakers, we prioritise accuracy:
- Expertise: We analyse official match reports, club communications, and reputable local media.
- Authority: We triangulate across multiple sources and clearly flag uncertainties.
- Consistency: We update regularly in-season, plus ad-hoc on transfers, injuries, or manager changes.
This approach keeps our list dependable without paywalls or fluff.
Free Kick Feats: MLS’ Masters of the Dead Ball
The roar of the crowd, the tension in the air, a free-kick opportunity on the edge of the box. In the pulsating world of MLS, these dead-ball situations hold the potential for moments of pure magic. But who are the wizards wielding the wand of precision and power, the free-kick maestros bending the ball to their will?
More than just luck: Forget aimless punts and hopeful prayers. Free kicks in the MLS are a battleground of strategy and skill. Teams meticulously craft routines, exploiting defensive gaps and luring opponents out of position. Analyzing free kick stats tells a story – how well teams are winning these opportunities and their tactical prowess in crafting game-changing moments.
Goals from impossible angles: Remember that breathtaking free kick that curled into the top corner last week? Chances are, it started with a foot blessed with pinpoint accuracy and a mind brimming with tactical understanding. Analyzing free kick stats helps us identify these specialists, the players with the ability to turn impossible angles into goals, single-handedly shifting the tide of a match.
Defensive vulnerabilities exposed: Not defending free kicks effectively can be a glaring red flag. Teams conceding a lot of these opportunities might be struggling defensively, letting opponents dictate the tempo and force them into giving away dangerous situations. Free kick stats can reveal these weaknesses, allowing teams to tighten up and plug the leaks.
The magic touch: Not everyone can bend the ball like Beckham. Free-kick takers MLS are often artists, their technique honed to perfection, their vision sharp enough to exploit even the smallest defensive lapse. Analyzing their stats helps us understand who truly owns the dead ball, who has the magic touch to turn a free kick into a moment of unforgettable brilliance.
Conquering the competition in 2025: Every point counts in the MLS title race, and teams are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for victory. Free kicks have become a crucial battleground, a chance to gain an edge and unlock scoring opportunities. By focusing on these situations, teams can refine their strategies, unleash their free-kick wizards, and tighten their defensive resolve.
So, the next time you see a free kick in an MLS game, remember, it’s not just a random kick. It’s a battle of skill, strategy, and a touch of magic. It’s a testament to the players who dare to bend the ball to their will, and a glimpse into the tactical chess game unfolding on the pitch.
This revised version focuses solely on the free kick takers in MLS, highlighting their importance, analyzing relevant statistics, and emphasizing the strategic element involved. It retains an engaging tone and avoids irrelevant information about corners and fantasy football.
Conclusion
Whether you’re setting your lineup or making in-game adjustments, this table will be your go-to resource for maximizing your points. Stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses, and may your fantasy team thrive with goals from well-placed free-kicks MLS!
The analysis of free-kick takers provides valuable insights into the strategies employed by different teams. It sheds light on the players trusted with this crucial task and their effectiveness in executing it. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these free-kick takers MLS statistics evolve and their impact on the final league standings.
Stay tuned for more updates and analyses on free-kick takers MLS and other major football leagues around the world!
We value your feedback and engagement. If you spot any discrepancies or have additional insights into free-kick takers MLS, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Your feedback helps us provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to fellow football enthusiasts and fantasy sports players.
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