DECLAN RICE MADE HISTORY

• Apr 14, 2025
• History Statistics

Declan Rice’s unique feat in UCL

On 8 April, Declan Rice made the history as the first ever player to score 2 direct free kick goals in a knockout stage match in the Champions League (since 1992), for Arsenal vs Real Madrid (3-0).

*Considering all stages of the competition, the 26-year old English midfielder is the 5th player to achieve this feat. All the previous 4 cases came in the group stage (see the table).

*During the European Cup era (1955-92), there was a case of direct free kick brace scored against Real Madrid. Rice’s predecessor was Ernst Happel (Rapid Vienna) on 14 November 1956.

*Among Arsenal players in the club’s history in Champions League, Rice became:
the 2nd to score multiple direct free-kicks after Thierry Henry (3), 
the 4th to score such way overall (including also Alberto Mendez and Bukayo Saka who made it once each), 
the 1st to do so in the knockout rounds of the competition.

*What makes his feat even more extraordinary: never before Declan Rice had scored a single direct free-kick in his senior club career (338 games in all competitions for West Ham and Arsenal). 

*Rice is the 2nd English player who has scored direct free-kick(s) against Real Madrid in the Champions League, after David Beckham in 2003.

*Real Madrid last conceded a direct free-kick away from home in the Champions League almost 20 years ago (Juninho Pernambucano for Lyon, on 13 September 2005).