Juninho Pernambucano was the finest free-kick taker of his generation, a Brazilian midfielder whose dead-ball strikes seemed to defy physics with their dip and swerve. At Olympique Lyonnais he was the conductor of the club’s golden era, driving a run of consecutive French league titles.
More than a specialist, he was an accomplished all-round midfielder, elegant in possession and a natural leader. His name became synonymous with Lyon’s dominance, and his free-kick technique has been studied and imitated ever since.