Who is the penalty king in football? In search of truth

“Who is the penalty king in football?” is a question that always makes fans debate when mentioning the best penalty takers in football history. From famous names like Cristiano Ronaldo with his power and composure, to legends like Marco van Basten or Rickie Lambert, each has their own style to assert themselves from the pressure of 12 yards. Based on an incredible success rate, these players are not only icons of technique but also masters of psychology, always keeping their spirits up in decisive moments. Let’s explore with Premiumsoccertips.net the ranking of the 12 greatest penalty takers in history!

Ranking the 12 best penalty takers in football history

10. Cristiano Ronaldo – 85% success rate

Cristiano Ronaldo is not only a football superstar but also a global icon, recognized as one of the greatest players in football history. With 910 official goals in his illustrious career, he is considered the greatest scorer of all time. However, this title is not without controversy, as some statistics about legends such as Pelé still create conflicting opinions. However, no one can deny the excellent scoring ability and persistent dedication that helped Ronaldo reach unimaginable heights in his career.

One of Cristiano Ronaldo’s most outstanding skills is his ability to take penalties. As of December 2024, he has taken 200 penalties in his career, successfully scoring 169 times. This is a clear testament to the Portuguese star’s efficiency and relentless perfectionism. Behind these impressive achievements lies hard work, even an obsession with perfection. Fans will not be surprised to learn that Ronaldo can spend hours reviewing his missed shots to learn from them and constantly improve his performance, a spirit that few players can match.

9. Harry Kane – 88% success rate

Harry Kane is one of the best strikers of the 21st century, known for his calm style and dangerous goalscoring ability. With an outstanding scoring record, Kane is currently the second highest scorer in Premier League history and the greatest scorer for the England national team. By the age of 30 in July 2023, Kane had scored over 400 goals for both club and country – an impressive milestone in his career. His ability to stay calm and shine in decisive moments has made Kane a symbol of stability and efficiency on the pitch.

Not only is Kane a talented striker, he is also known for his ability to take accurate penalty kicks. During his professional career, he was always the first choice when his team needed someone to take penalties from 11 meters. Kane has scored 74 of his 85 penalties, an incredible accuracy rate of over 85%. However, he would have given up many goals to be able to successfully take the important penalty against France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup – a fateful shot that flew over the crossbar, leaving Kane and his fans with many regrets.

8. Erling Haaland – 88% success rate

Norwegian star Erling Haaland has been a footballing sensation since his debut for the first team. At Red Bull Salzburg, he quickly made a name for himself in Europe with his excellent scoring form, which paved the way for Haaland to join Borussia Dortmund after just six months in Austria. In 2022, Manchester City activated the release clause in Haaland’s contract to bring him to the Etihad Stadium, where he continued to prove his outstanding talent and contributed significantly to the team’s success, including a historic treble.

Haaland is not only known for his excellent goal-scoring ability, but is also one of the most reliable players from the penalty spot. He has taken 53 penalties in his career, failing only six times – an astonishing success rate. Remarkably, of those six misses, only two came before Haaland joined Manchester City. Haaland’s consistent form from the spot and impressive scoring record, including the most goals in a Premier League season, have cemented his status as one of the world’s top strikers.

7. Robert Lewandowski – 89% success rate

Robert Lewandowski, one of the greatest strikers of the 21st century, has left a deep mark at Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. With over 500 goals in his career for these three top clubs, Lewandowski has established himself as one of the best strikers in the world. In particular, in 2017, he became Poland’s all-time leading goalscorer, with a total of 84 goals for the national team as of December 2024. Lewandowski is not only known for his ability to score in important matches, but also for his consistency and efficiency over the seasons.

In addition to his impressive goalscoring ability, Lewandowski is also excellent at taking penalty kicks. During his career, he has taken 94 penalties and scored 84 goals from the spot. His first penalty came in a 4–2 win for Polish second division side Znicz Pruszkow in August 2007. Less than six years later, Lewandowski scored from the spot for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, marking his maturity and growing influence on the European stage.

6. Roger Ceni – 90% Success Rate

Rogerio Ceni, a legendary Brazilian goalkeeper, has had a remarkable career that few people can imagine, as he is not only famous for his saves but also for being one of the best penalty takers in football history. Ceni spent his entire 25-year career with Sao Paulo, where he made over 1,000 appearances. During this time, the goalkeeper not only defended the goal but also took many penalties and free kicks, making him the goalkeeper with the most goals in football history, with a total of 129 goals. This proves Ceni’s special talent in set-piece situations.

Of the 52 penalties Ceni took, he scored 47 goals, achieving an impressive success rate of up to 90%. However, as a goalkeeper, he has had less luck when it comes to penalties. Throughout his career, Ceni has had to deal with 53 penalties and has only saved four. Despite this, in the 2000s, Ceni was still considered one of the world’s top goalkeepers, with excellent footwork and consistent form in important matches.

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5. Bruno Fernandes – 90% success rate

Since joining Manchester United in January 2020 for £47 million from Sporting Lisbon, Bruno Fernandes has quickly become one of the key players at Old Trafford. Not only playing an important role in the midfield, Fernandes has also been given the responsibility of taking penalties for the team. He has shown his composure and composure when taking important penalties. By the summer of 2023, Fernandes was appointed captain of Manchester United, a testament to the trust the club has placed in him. In this role, he has not only led the team but also maintained excellent form from the 11-meter mark.

As of December 2024, Fernandes has taken a total of 36 penalties for Manchester United, scoring 32 goals and achieving an 89% success rate. This number proves that he is a penalty specialist for the club. However, when you add in the penalties he has taken for previous clubs such as Novara, Udinese and Sporting Lisbon, as well as for the Portuguese national team, his success rate is even higher. Fernandes’ consistency and accuracy from the 11-yard mark have made him one of the most reliable players in Manchester United’s history.

4. Mario Balotelli – 91% success rate

Mario Balotelli, one of the most controversial and unpredictable figures in Premier League history, has made a lasting impression on the game, not only through his talent but also his unpredictable attitude. Balotelli has proven his ability since winning the Golden Boy award in 2010, but his erratic behaviour has frustrated experienced managers such as Jose Mourinho and Roberto Mancini. Despite his undeniable talent, Balotelli has never really fulfilled his potential, making his career a series of controversial moments and never quite living up to expectations.

However, despite his attitude issues, Balotelli has been a very reliable penalty taker. As of May 2024, the Italian striker has taken 53 penalties in his playing career, spanning prestigious tournaments such as the Champions League and the Swiss Super League. With 48 of his goals coming from the spot, Balotelli has an impressive success rate of 91%. His consistency from the spot has somewhat compensated for other inconsistencies in his career, and shows that, while not the most predictable player, Balotelli can always shine when faced with a close-range scoring opportunity.

3. Alan Shearer – 92% success rate

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, has left an indelible mark on English football with 260 goals. Shearer scored 112 goals for Blackburn Rovers and 148 for Newcastle United, his boyhood club. His excellent scoring instincts and consistent form saw him set the record for most goals scored in a Premier League season with 34 in the 1994/95 campaign, a record that stood until Erling Haaland broke it in 2023.

In addition to his impressive goalscoring record, Shearer was also an excellent penalty taker. Over his 18-year career, he took 78 penalties and scored 72, achieving an impressive 92% success rate. This demonstrated his composure and accuracy when faced with a penalty opportunity. Shearer’s final career goal also came from a penalty, when he scored for Newcastle in a 4-1 win over Sunderland in April 2006. That powerful penalty was the perfect end to an illustrious career for a Premier League legend.

2. Marco van Basten – 93% success rate

Marco van Basten, one of the greatest centre-forwards in football history, made his mark at Ajax and AC Milan, the two clubs he played for throughout his career. Van Basten was known for his prolific goalscoring ability, and for much of the 1980s he was Ajax’s star man. After moving to AC Milan in 1987, he helped the team win two European Cups, cementing his status as one of the greatest players of all time. However, his career was cut short by a series of ankle injuries, and Van Basten retired from football in 1995 at the age of 30, leaving behind an unfulfilled but impressive career.

Van Basten scored over 300 goals during his career, including 51 successful penalties from 55 attempts. His success rate was an impressive 93%, demonstrating Van Basten’s accuracy and composure when faced with a penalty opportunity. Had injuries not interrupted his efforts, this rate would have been even higher, but Van Basten will always be remembered as one of the best strikers in the history of world football.

1. Rickie Lambert – 94% success rate

Rickie Lambert, with a career spanning almost 20 years, reached his peak during his time at Southampton, where he moved from Bristol Rovers in 2009. During his five years there, Lambert was instrumental in helping the club rise from League One, where they had been relegated when he joined, back to the Premier League in 2012. Southampton’s achievements during this period highlighted Lambert’s importance as not only a key striker but also a leader on the pitch, helping the team achieve significant success.

One of the highlights of Lambert’s career when he moved up to the Premier League was his outstanding penalty-taking record. He took 30 penalties for Southampton and scored on all of them, never missing a single one. His record was so strong that comparisons were drawn to the legendary Matt le Tissier, a club icon who was also renowned for his penalty-taking prowess. Lambert became a specialist from the spot, and his accuracy was a huge part of Southampton’s success during his time at the club.

Final thoughts

So, the answer to the question “who is the penalty king in football” depends on the perspective and evaluation criteria of each fan. From the impressive success rate of Rickie Lambert, the incredible consistency of Marco van Basten, to the bravery and power of Cristiano Ronaldo, each player on the list has left a deep mark on the 11m mark. Whether it is high-pressure situations or decisive shots, they have proven their worth with their own unique style. This reminds us that the title of “penalty king” is not only determined by numbers, but also by the influence and greatness they bring to football.

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