Cristiano Ronaldo, a name synonymous with scoring prowess and a cabinet overflowing with accolades, has recently added another, albeit less desirable, record to his illustrious career. The Portuguese legend, known for his clinical finishing from the penalty spot, now holds the distinction of having missed the most penalties in football history.
The moment that cemented this unwanted milestone came during Portugal’s clash with Ireland on Saturday. Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, a name few would have anticipated emerging from this narrative, stood tall and denied Ronaldo from 12 yards out. This miss, according to Planet Football on Monday, pushed Ronaldo’s total tally of failed spot-kicks to a staggering 34.
However, to truly understand this statistic, context is crucial. It’s a record that comes with a significant asterisk. Ronaldo isn’t just the player with the most penalty misses; he is also the player who has taken the most penalties on record, with an astonishing 211 attempts. Furthermore, he has converted an impressive 177 of those, boasting a remarkable 83.8% success rate. This figure remains commendably above the average for penalty takers.
This development inevitably sparks a conversation about other prominent figures in the modern era who have also found the penalty spot a challenging frontier at times. Let’s take a look at seven players who, like Ronaldo, have experienced their share of penalty frustrations:
7. Ronaldinho – 16 misses The Brazilian magician, celebrated for his flair and trickery, maintained an impressive 81.1% conversion rate from the spot. Yet, even he couldn’t escape appearing on this list with 16 missed penalties. Perhaps one of his most memorable blunders came against England in 2013, where a brilliant double save from Joe Hart thwarted his effort.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimović – 17 misses The enigmatic Swedish striker has a formidable record of 87 penalties scored and 17 missed, giving him a solid 83.6% success rate. However, his conversion rate showed a dip upon his return to AC Milan in 2020. In his final four seasons, he only managed to convert half of his penalties, missing six out of twelve taken during his Milan comeback.
5. Ciro Immobile – 19 misses The Italian forward recently edged past Ibrahimović on this list after missing two of his last seven penalties for Besiktas. In total, Immobile has taken 105 spot-kicks, scoring 86 and missing 19, resulting in an overall conversion rate of 81.9%.
4. Francesco Totti – 20 misses The AS Roma legend was particularly adept from the penalty spot, especially in his later years. Remarkably, Totti did not miss a single penalty in his final four and a half seasons, converting his last 13 consecutive attempts before retiring. Throughout his career, he took 106 penalties and scored 86.
3. Neymar – 22 misses While often perceived as “ice-cold” from the spot, the Brazilian superstar has also had his fair share of penalty misses. He has taken 113 penalties, scoring 91 for a conversion rate of 80.5%, still comfortably above average. Interestingly, since re-joining Santos, he boasts a perfect record, converting both penalties he’s taken. His time at PSG was also highly successful from the spot, with a 90.3% conversion rate, scoring 28 out of 31.
2. Lionel Messi – 32 misses Just last year, Lionel Messi held the record for the most penalty misses. While not always his strongest suit, his 77.9% conversion rate is still considered just above average. The Argentine has undoubtedly improved his penalty-taking in his later years, though he has often ceded responsibility to teammates since joining Inter Miami. In his career, he has taken 145 penalties, scoring 113 and missing 32.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 34 misses The latest development sees Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of this list. Having missed four of his last 16 penalties over the past year, his latest miss against Ireland has put him in an unwanted historical position. Despite this, it’s crucial to reiterate that along with the most misses, Ronaldo also holds the records for the most penalties scored (177) and taken (211) on record. His 83.8% conversion rate remains a testament to his remarkable reliability from the spot, even with this new, less celebrated statistic.
While a record of 34 penalty misses might seem concerning, the sheer volume of penalties taken and the high success rate underscore Cristiano Ronaldo’s enduring impact and consistent threat from 12 yards. This is a record that highlights his longevity and his willingness to step up when it matters most, even if sometimes the outcome isn’t what we’ve come to expect from the legendary forward.
