Who is the best at direct free-kicks: Messi or Ronaldoor Ward-Prowse?

Well after James Ward-Prowse added another to his tally with a superb effort against Brighton on Sunday afternoon, Planet Sport takes a look at the cold, hard facts in this three-way free-kick battle.

Messi and Ronaldo have netted a combined 116 goals from dead balls in almost 2,000 appearances.

There's nothing between them either, with both Messi and Ronaldo level on 58 career free-kick goals. The Portuguese striker drew level earlier this month with his superb effort against Norwich.

Before that though, Ronaldo's last set-piece success came for his previous club, Juventus, in the Derby della Mole with Torino on July 4, 2020.

The 25-yard strike proved to be his only free-kick goal for the Italian outfit, despite spending three seasons in Turin.

At club level, Messi has bagged 50 free-kicks, averaging one every 16.1 games, while Ronaldo has 48 to his name,finding the net every 19 games.

In league matches, Messi has 39 to CR7's 33.

Portugal's all-time record scorer shines more from dead balls in the Champions League, having recorded 12 free-kicks in comparison to Messi's five and also on the international stage with 10 to Messi's eight. However, the PSG player's last two successful direct free-kicks have come for his nation, against Chile and Ecuador.

JWP scored his 14th Premier League free-kick in spectacular fashion against Brighton in April. It was his fourth free-kick goal of the campaign following on from strikes against Wolves, Crystal Palace and Leeds.

He has made exactly 300 top-flight appearances and averages a free-kick goal every 21.4 matches but with the bulk of those having come in the past few seasons, his average is improving.

Messi's technique is more suitable for free-kicks around 20-25 yards out, with