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Why Soccer Should Steal This NFL Rule - For Messi's Sake

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Crispin Leyser | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 9:30 AM ET

FIFA recently debuted some new innovations for the Club World Cup, to mixed reviews. Player walk-ons, a Ref Body cam and more. But there's one idea that FIFA could steal from the NFL that would have fans on the edge of their seats.

The NFL has specialized players responsible for scoring points by kicking field goals and extra points. It's not a physically demanding role. Adam Vinatieri played for the Indianapolis Colts until retiring in 2021, aged 46. The role is essential and often decisive in games.

Record-Breaking Ronaldo

In soccer too free kicks and penalties win many games and few are better at them than soccer's two GOATS, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has scored 174 penalties in his career. For context the next best in this department is Ronald Koeman with 113.

Meanwhile Messi just scored the 68th direct free kick of his career for Inter Miami vs Porto in the Club World Cup.

A New York Times headline later read “How Messi consistently makes direct free kicks feel like penalties”.

Soccer: meet American Football

Soccer should adopt the "NFL rule" and allow each team to put a specialized kicker on the bench who can be subbed in an out purely to take direct free kicks and penalties.

Purists might resist but the game is constantly evolving to improve itself, be it with VAR, added-time rules or the length of time a goalkeeper can hold the ball. It's all done with the fans' entertainment in mind.

The "NFL" kicker rule in soccer would not only add a tactical dimension to the game, it could extend the playing careers of Messi and Ronaldo for years. And who wouldn't want to see that?

Paradoxically, the idea has been considered in reverse. Harry Kane has expressed a desire to become an NFL field goal kicker in the future. Some say he even auditioned for the role with his penalty for England in the last World Cup