Players with the Most Penalty Goals: Taking penalties is hard. Really hard. You’re standing twelve yards from goal. The whole stadium is watching. One shot to score or miss.
Ronaldo smashes them hard. Messi places them perfectly. We looked at who scored the most penalties ever.
Players with the Most Penalty Goals
Here are the top 50 players. These guys never get nervous at the penalty spot. They just score and win games.
50. Diego Forlán (Uruguay)
- Total Penalties Taken: 35
- Total Penalties Scored: 27
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 77.1%
Forlán was class. Pure class. The Uruguayan striker never looked nervous stepping up to take penalties. His technique was smooth and he rarely missed the target completely. 27 goals from 35 attempts shows real quality under pressure.
49. Thierry Henry (France)
- Total Penalties Taken: 36
- Total Penalties Scored: 28
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 77.8%
Henry made everything look easy. Even penalties. The Arsenal legend would glide up to the ball like he was taking a casual shot in training. His left foot was magic and goalkeepers knew it. 28 successful penalties out of 36 attempts proves his brilliance extended to every part of the game.
48. Fernando Torres (Spain)
- Total Penalties Taken: 42
- Total Penalties Scored: 31
- Total Penalties Missed: 11
- Success Rate: 73.8%
Torres had that killer instinct. When Spain needed a goal, he stepped up. His blonde hair flowing as he ran up to strike the ball. Not the highest success rate on this list but still incredibly reliable when it mattered most. 31 penalties scored shows he could handle the biggest moments.
47. Luís Figo (Portugal)
- Total Penalties Taken: 45
- Total Penalties Scored: 38
- Total Penalties Missed: 7
- Success Rate: 84.4%
Figo was Portugal’s golden boy. And he showed it from the penalty spot. The winger had this calm way of walking up to the ball. Never rushed. Never panicked. His right foot was deadly accurate and 38 goals from 45 attempts proves it. Goalkeepers struggled against his precision.
46. Robin Van Persie (Netherlands)
- Total Penalties Taken: 46
- Total Penalties Scored: 39
- Total Penalties Missed: 7
- Success Rate: 84.8%
Van Persie was a natural goalscorer. His penalties were no different. The Dutch striker had this fluid technique that made difficult shots look simple. His left foot could find any corner of the net. 39 successful penalties from 46 attempts shows why Arsenal and Manchester United trusted him completely.
45. Fabio Quagliarella (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 50
- Total Penalties Scored: 42
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 84.0%
Quagliarella got better with age. His penalty taking was proof of that. The Italian striker spent years perfecting his technique and it showed. By the time he was in his thirties, he was virtually unstoppable from twelve yards. 42 goals from 50 penalties is seriously impressive for any player.
44. Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Mexico)
- Total Penalties Taken: 43
- Total Penalties Scored: 42
- Total Penalties Missed: 1
- Success Rate: 97.7%
Blanco was almost perfect. Just almost. The Mexican midfielder only missed one penalty out of 43 attempts. That’s incredible. His technique was simple but deadly effective. He would pick his spot and rarely change his mind. Goalkeepers had no chance against such consistency.
43. Rivaldo (Brazil)
- Total Penalties Taken: 46
- Total Penalties Scored: 42
- Total Penalties Missed: 4
- Success Rate: 91.3%
Rivaldo had magic in his left foot. Everyone knew it. His penalties were works of art. The Brazilian would approach the ball with this swagger that intimidated goalkeepers before he even shot. 42 goals from 46 attempts shows why he was one of the world’s best players.
42. Terry Wharton (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 44
- Total Penalties Scored: 43
- Total Penalties Missed: 1
- Success Rate: 97.7%
Wharton was reliability personified. The English forward only missed one penalty in his entire career. One miss from 44 attempts is almost unbelievable. His technique was simple but it worked every single time. No fancy tricks, just pure consistency and mental strength.
41. Alessandro Altobelli (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 54
- Total Penalties Scored: 43
- Total Penalties Missed: 11
- Success Rate: 79.6%
Altobelli was Italy’s penalty specialist for years. The striker took 54 penalties during his career and scored 43 of them. Not the highest percentage but still very solid. He had this methodical approach that worked well under pressure. Italian defenders knew they could count on him.
40. Matthew Le Tissier (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 44
- Total Penalties Scored: 43
- Total Penalties Missed: 1
- Success Rate: 97.7%
Le Tissier was a penalty genius. The Southampton legend only missed one penalty in his entire career. Just one. His technique was perfect and his composure was unbreakable. 43 successful penalties from 44 attempts is a record that might never be beaten.
39. Michel Platini (France)
- Total Penalties Taken: 46
- Total Penalties Scored: 44
- Total Penalties Missed: 2
- Success Rate: 95.7%
Platini was French elegance at its finest. The midfielder’s penalty technique was poetry in motion. He only missed two penalties in his entire career. Two misses from 46 attempts is absolutely phenomenal. His right foot was blessed with incredible accuracy and power.
38. Steven Gerrard (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 55
- Total Penalties Scored: 46
- Total Penalties Missed: 9
- Success Rate: 83.6%
Gerrard was Liverpool’s captain for a reason. When the pressure was highest, he stepped up. His penalty technique was pure power and precision. The midfielder’s right foot could blast the ball past any goalkeeper. 46 successful penalties from 55 attempts shows why Liverpool trusted him completely.
37. Kaká (Brazil)
- Total Penalties Taken: 56
- Total Penalties Scored: 48
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 85.7%
Kaká made penalties look effortless. The Brazilian’s technique was smooth and calculated. He would study the goalkeeper and pick his spot carefully. His success rate of 85.7% proves that preparation and skill combined perfectly. 48 goals from 56 penalties is world-class quality.
36. Wayne Rooney (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 61
- Total Penalties Scored: 48
- Total Penalties Missed: 13
- Success Rate: 78.7%
Rooney was Manchester United’s go-to penalty taker for years. The striker’s powerful right foot could generate incredible pace on the ball. He missed 13 penalties but still scored 48 times. That shows real mental toughness and the ability to bounce back from disappointment.
35. Diego Milito (Argentina)
- Total Penalties Taken: 58
- Total Penalties Scored: 49
- Total Penalties Missed: 9
- Success Rate: 84.5%
Milito was ice cold under pressure. The Argentine striker showed it time and again from the penalty spot. His technique was clinical and his composure was unshakeable. 49 successful penalties from 58 attempts proves why Inter Milan relied on him in the biggest matches.
34. Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Total Penalties Taken: 63
- Total Penalties Scored: 50
- Total Penalties Missed: 13
- Success Rate: 79.4%
Mbappé is still young but already a penalty expert. The French striker approaches every penalty with confidence. His pace might be his biggest weapon but his penalty technique is excellent too. 50 goals from 63 attempts shows he can handle pressure at the highest level.
33. Marco van Basten (Netherlands)
- Total Penalties Taken: 55
- Total Penalties Scored: 51
- Total Penalties Missed: 4
- Success Rate: 92.7%
Van Basten was Dutch perfection. The striker’s penalty technique was flawless and his success rate proves it. Only four misses from 55 attempts is incredible for any player. His right foot was blessed with incredible accuracy and he rarely wasted good opportunities.
32. Erling Haaland (Norway)
- Total Penalties Taken: 59
- Total Penalties Scored: 51
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 86.4%
Haaland treats penalties like tap-ins. The Norwegian striker’s power is frightening and his accuracy is impressive. At such a young age, he already has 51 penalty goals. His success rate of 86.4% shows he’s not just about pace and power – he has real technique too.
31. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
- Total Penalties Taken: 59
- Total Penalties Scored: 51
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 86.4%
Hazard was silky smooth from the penalty spot. The Belgian’s left foot could find any corner of the net. His technique was all about placement rather than power. 51 successful penalties from 59 attempts shows why Chelsea fans loved watching him step up for penalties.
30. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
- Total Penalties Taken: 65
- Total Penalties Scored: 52
- Total Penalties Missed: 13
- Success Rate: 80.0%
Van Nistelrooy was a natural goalscorer. His penalties were no different from his regular goals – clinical and deadly. The Dutch striker took 65 penalties during his career and scored 52 of them. His technique was simple but incredibly effective under pressure.
29. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- Total Penalties Taken: 63
- Total Penalties Scored: 52
- Total Penalties Missed: 11
- Success Rate: 82.5%
Salah keeps getting better at penalties. The Egyptian’s left foot is becoming more and more reliable from twelve yards. His success rate of 82.5% is impressive for a winger who didn’t always take penalties early in his career. 52 goals from 63 attempts shows real improvement over time.
28. Michael Zorc (Germany)
- Total Penalties Taken: 63
- Total Penalties Scored: 53
- Total Penalties Missed: 9
- Success Rate: 84.1%
Zorc was Borussia Dortmund’s penalty specialist for years. The German midfielder took 63 penalties and scored 53 of them. His technique was methodical and reliable. Never flashy but always effective. His success rate shows why Dortmund trusted him with such an important responsibility.
27. Diego Maradona (Argentina)
- Total Penalties Taken: 58
- Total Penalties Scored: 54
- Total Penalties Missed: 4
- Success Rate: 93.1%
Maradona was magic. Even from the penalty spot. The Argentine legend only missed four penalties in his entire career. His left foot was blessed and everyone knew it. 54 successful penalties from 58 attempts is incredible for any player, let alone one who played in such a physical era.
26. Romário (Brazil)
- Total Penalties Taken: 59
- Total Penalties Scored: 54
- Total Penalties Missed: 5
- Success Rate: 91.5%
Romário was small but deadly. The Brazilian striker’s penalty technique was perfect for his size. He would pick his spot and rarely miss. His success rate of 91.5% is phenomenal. 54 goals from 59 penalties shows why Brazil relied on him in the biggest tournaments.
25. Luis Suárez (Uruguay)
- Total Penalties Taken: 69
- Total Penalties Scored: 55
- Total Penalties Missed: 14
- Success Rate: 79.7%
Suárez brings that fighting spirit to penalty taking. The Uruguayan striker never backs down from pressure. He’s taken 69 penalties during his career and scored 55 times. His technique isn’t perfect but his mental toughness makes up for any technical shortcomings.
24. Domenico Berardi (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 63
- Total Penalties Scored: 55
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 87.3%
Berardi represents the new generation of penalty takers. The Italian winger has excellent technique and impressive composure for such a young player. His success rate of 87.3% shows that modern training methods are producing better penalty takers. 55 goals from 63 attempts is seriously impressive.
23. Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
- Total Penalties Taken: 73
- Total Penalties Scored: 58
- Total Penalties Missed: 15
- Success Rate: 79.5%
Aguero was Manchester City’s penalty king for years. The Argentine striker took 73 penalties during his career and scored 58 of them. His technique was all about low, hard shots into the corners. Goalkeepers struggled to reach his penalties because of the pace and placement.
22. Rogério Ceni (Brazil)
- Total Penalties Taken: 66
- Total Penalties Scored: 59
- Total Penalties Missed: 7
- Success Rate: 89.4%
Ceni was unique. A goalkeeper who took penalties. The Brazilian’s success rate of 89.4% is incredible for any player, let alone a keeper. His understanding of goalkeeper psychology gave him a huge advantage. 59 goals from 66 penalties proves that specialization really works.
21. Frank Lampard (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 70
- Total Penalties Scored: 60
- Total Penalties Missed: 10
- Success Rate: 85.7%
Lampard was Chelsea’s penalty master. The midfielder’s technique was textbook perfect. He would always hit the ball low and hard into the corners. His success rate of 85.7% shows incredible consistency over many years. 60 successful penalties from 70 attempts is world-class quality.
20. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)
- Total Penalties Taken: 74
- Total Penalties Scored: 62
- Total Penalties Missed: 16
- Success Rate: 83.8%
Cavani has that South American flair. The Uruguayan striker’s penalty technique evolved as he moved between different leagues. He’s taken 74 penalties and scored 62 times. His experience in different countries has made him one of the most adaptable penalty takers in world football.
19. Lothar Matthäus (Germany)
- Total Penalties Taken: 76
- Total Penalties Scored: 67
- Total Penalties Missed: 9
- Success Rate: 88.2%
Matthäus was Germany’s midfield general. And he showed it from the penalty spot too. The midfielder took 76 penalties during his career and scored 67 of them. His leadership qualities showed every time he stepped up to take a penalty. Mental strength was his biggest weapon.
18. Manfred Kaltz (Germany)
- Total Penalties Taken: 76
- Total Penalties Scored: 68
- Total Penalties Missed: 8
- Success Rate: 89.5%
Kaltz was a penalty specialist. The German defender made penalty taking look easy. His success rate of 89.5% is incredible for any player. 68 goals from 76 attempts shows real dedication to perfecting his technique. German efficiency at its finest.
17. Ronaldinho (Brazil)
- Total Penalties Taken: 87
- Total Penalties Scored: 70
- Total Penalties Missed: 17
- Success Rate: 80.5%
Ronaldinho brought joy to penalty taking. The Brazilian’s smile was his secret weapon. He would approach every penalty with this infectious happiness that seemed to confuse goalkeepers. 70 successful penalties from 87 attempts proves that having fun and being effective can go together perfectly.
16. Gerd Müller (Germany)
- Total Penalties Taken: 84
- Total Penalties Scored: 70
- Total Penalties Missed: 14
- Success Rate: 83.3%
Müller was Der Bomber for a reason. His penalties were explosive and accurate. The German striker took 84 penalties during his career and scored 70 times. His compact style generated surprising power. Goalkeepers rarely had time to react to his quick strikes.
15. Alan Shearer (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 77
- Total Penalties Scored: 72
- Total Penalties Missed: 5
- Success Rate: 93.5%
Shearer was England’s penalty king. The striker’s right foot was like a cannon from twelve yards. He only missed five penalties out of 77 attempts. That’s incredible consistency for such a long career. His power and accuracy combination was virtually unstoppable.
14. Graham Alexander (Scotland)
- Total Penalties Taken: 78
- Total Penalties Scored: 74
- Total Penalties Missed: 4
- Success Rate: 94.9%
Alexander holds one of football’s most remarkable records. The Scottish defender only missed four penalties out of 78 attempts. His success rate of 94.9% is almost unbelievable. Perfect preparation and flawless execution made him virtually unstoppable from the penalty spot.
13. Hugo Sánchez (Mexico)
- Total Penalties Taken: 79
- Total Penalties Scored: 74
- Total Penalties Missed: 5
- Success Rate: 93.7%
Sánchez was Mexico’s greatest striker. His penalty record proves it. Only five misses from 79 attempts is phenomenal for any player. His acrobatic celebrations often started before the ball even crossed the line. That’s true confidence in your own ability.
12. Harry Kane (England)
- Total Penalties Taken: 85
- Total Penalties Scored: 74
- Total Penalties Missed: 11
- Success Rate: 87.1%
Kane is England’s current penalty king. The striker’s right foot is deadly accurate from twelve yards. He’s taken 85 penalties and scored 74 times. His technique combines traditional English power with modern precision. Goalkeepers struggle against his placement and pace.
11. Ciro Immobile (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 81
- Total Penalties Scored: 75
- Total Penalties Missed: 6
- Success Rate: 92.6%
Immobile has one of the best penalty records in modern football. The Italian striker’s success rate of 92.6% is incredible. Only six misses from 81 attempts shows remarkable consistency. His technique is simple but deadly effective. Italian precision at its finest.
10. Alessandro Del Piero (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 97
- Total Penalties Scored: 77
- Total Penalties Missed: 15
- Success Rate: 79.4%
Del Piero was Juventus royalty. The Italian forward took 97 penalties during his career and scored 77 times. His technique was all about placement and finesse. Never the most powerful penalty taker but incredibly accurate when it mattered most.
9. Neymar (Brazil)
- Total Penalties Taken: 94
- Total Penalties Scored: 77
- Total Penalties Missed: 17
- Success Rate: 81.9%
Neymar brings Brazilian flair to penalty taking. The striker’s technique is full of tricks and feints. He’s taken 94 penalties and scored 77 times. His quick run-up often catches goalkeepers off guard. Style and substance combined perfectly.
8. Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
- Total Penalties Taken: 94
- Total Penalties Scored: 77
- Total Penalties Missed: 17
- Success Rate: 81.9%
Lewandowski treats penalties like any other goal. The Polish striker’s methodical approach works perfectly. He’s taken 94 penalties and scored 77 times. His placement and power make him one of the most reliable penalty takers in world football.
7. David Villa (Spain)
- Total Penalties Taken: 93
- Total Penalties Scored: 79
- Total Penalties Missed: 14
- Success Rate: 84.9%
Villa was Spain’s penalty specialist during their golden generation. The striker’s left foot was deadly accurate from twelve yards. His success rate of 84.9% shows incredible consistency. 79 goals from 93 penalties proves why Spain trusted him completely in big tournaments.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)
- Total Penalties Taken: 102
- Total Penalties Scored: 85
- Total Penalties Missed: 17
- Success Rate: 83.3%
Zlatan approached penalties like he approached everything else – with supreme confidence. The Swedish striker took 102 penalties during his career and scored 85 times. His towering presence intimidated goalkeepers before he even touched the ball. Pure mental dominance.
5. Francesco Totti (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 106
- Total Penalties Scored: 86
- Total Penalties Missed: 20
- Success Rate: 81.1%
Totti was Roma’s penalty king for decades. The Italian legend took 106 penalties and scored 86 times. His famous panenka chips became legendary among football fans. Creative, cheeky, and incredibly effective. That was Totti in a nutshell.
4. Roberto Baggio (Italy)
- Total Penalties Taken: 119
- Total Penalties Scored: 101
- Total Penalties Missed: 18
- Success Rate: 84.9%
Baggio was Il Divin Codino. The Divine Ponytail. His penalty technique was as elegant as everything else about his game. 101 successful penalties from 119 attempts shows real class under pressure. One of Italy’s greatest players and one of the world’s best penalty takers.
3. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- Total Penalties Taken: 133
- Total Penalties Scored: 112
- Total Penalties Missed: 31
- Success Rate: 84.2%
Messi is the master. The Argentine legend has taken 133 penalties and scored 112 times. His left foot can find any corner of the net with surgical precision. Some people say he’s not great at penalties but his record tells a different story. Pure genius from twelve yards.
2. Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)
- Total Penalties Taken: 120
- Total Penalties Scored: 113
- Total Penalties Missed: 7
- Success Rate: 94.2%
Koeman was ice cold from the penalty spot. The Dutch defender’s success rate of 94.2% is phenomenal. Only seven misses from 120 attempts is almost unbelievable. His technique was methodical and his composure was unbreakable. One of the greatest penalty takers ever.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- Total Penalties Taken: 207
- Total Penalties Scored: 174
- Total Penalties Missed: 33
- Success Rate: 84.1%
Ronaldo is the penalty king. The Portuguese superstar has taken more penalties than anyone else in football history. 207 attempts. 174 goals. His technique combines raw power with deadly accuracy. When Ronaldo steps up to take a penalty, you know it’s going in. The greatest penalty taker of all time.
