bayer Leverkusen‘s Alejandro Grimaldo Crowned Europe’s Free Kick Specialist
Leverkusen, Germany – Bayer Leverkusen left-back Alejandro Grimaldo has emerged as the leading free kick scorer across Europe’s top leagues, netting three goals directly from set pieces this season – a feat unmatched by any other player to date. Grimaldo’s latest strike, securing a crucial first point in the Champions League against RB Leipzig, underscored his growing reputation as a dead-ball danger.
This dominance from the newly-arrived Spaniard highlights a growing trend of set-piece proficiency within the Bundesliga. While Grimaldo leads the continent, four other German Oberhaus players – Maximilian Arnold (Wolfsburg), Nadiem Amiri, Robert Skov (Union Berlin), and Danel Sinani (St. Pauli) – have each successfully converted one free kick this season. This places the Bundesliga at the forefront of free kick expertise in Europe.
“Grima has a strong foot. He did it again today,” acknowledged Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken following Thursday’s match, praising his teammate’s pivotal goal. Grimaldo previously showcased this skill while playing for 1. FC Heidenheim before joining Leverkusen in the summer transfer window.
Beyond the Bundesliga contingent, Rafa Mir (sevilla), Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), and Nico Paz (Como) have each scored one free kick in their respective leagues. However, Grimaldo remains the sole player with multiple direct goals from free kicks within the top five European leagues.