Top 15 footballers with the most penalty goals in the history of the game

Footballers with the most penalty goals in the history give the impression that scoring from a spot is simple. In reality, these players deal with a lot of pressure from teammates and spectators. For this reason, they dread losing a penalty, since it is a golden chance to make people watching them proud. This article lists the top 15 most proficient penalty takers with precise shooting skills.

Players with the most penalty goals in history are commended for their bravery and boldness. Many know how hard it can be to score a penalty goal when all eyes are on you. It takes steel nerves and a lion's heart to score from the spot. These players have mastered key strategies like confidence, how to keep their heads over the ball and focus on where to place their shots, and how to strike the ball cleanly.

List of footballers with the most penalty goals in the history

Most players who score penalty goals are purely gifted. Although they spent a lot of time exercising to improve their skills, how they score almost all penalties they are given can only be described as a unique inborn gift. Below are the 15 top soccer players with the most penalty goals in the history of soccer:

15. Kylian Mbappé - PSG

Full name: Kylian Mbappé Lottin

Born: 20 December 1998

Age: 24 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: French

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 34

Total penalties missed: 8

Total penalties: 42

Career duration: 2016 - date

No. of clubs he played for: 2

Current teams: Paris Saint-Germain, France national football team
The longest time Kylian has played for a club: Paris Saint-Germain (2018 - present)

Kylian Mbappé is one of the best players in the world. The Paris Saint-Germain striker is renowned for his dribbling abilities, exceptional speed, and finishing. Kylian Mbappé has scored 34 penalty goals since his senior career debuted at AS Monaco in 2016. He has only played for Paris SG and Monaco at senior level.

14. Erling Haaland - Manchester City

Full name: Erling Braut Haaland

Born: 21 July 2000

Age: 23 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Norwegian

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 39

Total penalties missed: 4

Total penalties: 43

Career duration: 2015 - present

No. of clubs he played for: 5

Current teams: Manchester City, Norway national football team

The longest time Halaad has played for a club: Borussia Dortmund (2020 - 2022)

Erling Haaland is one of the best players in the world. He plays for Manchester City and has previously played for Borussia Dortmund, RB Salzburg, Molde FK, and Bryne at a senior level. Striker Erling Haaland is known for his speed, strength, positioning, and finishing inside the box.

13. Steven Gerrard - Retired

Full name: Steven George Gerrard MBE

Born: 30 May 1980

Age: 43 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: English

Position: Midfielder

Total penalties scored: 46

Total penalties missed: 19

Total penalties: 55

Career duration: 1998 - 2017

No. of clubs he played for:

The longest time Gerrad has played for a club: Liverpool (1998 - 2015)

Gerrard was among the most competent footballers in the world in the early 2000s. He was discovered by his local upper-division football club, Liverpool FC, at age nine. Steven Gerrard played for Liverpool and Los Angeles in his senior career and scored 46 penalty goals.

12. Sergio Aguero - Retired

Full name: Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo

Born: 2 June 1988
Age: 35 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Argentine

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 48

Total penalties missed: 14

Total penalties: 62

Career duration: 2003 - 2021

No. of clubs he played for: 6

The longest time Sergio has played for a club: Manchester City (2011 - 2021)

The legendary Man-City striker is among the players with the most penalty goals in football. He was one of the best strikers of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League. Sergio Aguero played for six clubs and spent most of his career time, a decade, with Manchester City.

11. Frank Lampard - Retired

Full name: Frank James Lampard OBE

Born: 20 June 1978

Age: 45 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: English

Position: Midfielder

Total penalties scored: 60

Total penalties missed: 10

Total penalties: 70

Career duration: 1995 - 2016

No. of clubs he played for: 5

The longest time Lampard has played for a club: Chelsea (2001 - 2014)

Lampard was one of Chelsea's greatest players ever and one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. He played as a box-to-box midfielder and an excellent penalty-taker. As one of the highest goal-scoring midfielders of all time, Frank Lampard only missed ten times from the spot kick. He played the longest for Chelsea.

10. Edinson Cavani - Boca Juniors

Full name: Edinson Roberto Cavani Gómez

Born: 14 February 1987

Age: 36 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Uruguayan

Position: Forward

Total penalties scored: 61

Total penalties missed: 14

Total penalties: 75

Career duration: 2005 - date

No. of clubs he played for: 7

Current teams: Club Atlético Boca Juniors, Uruguay national football team
The longest time Cavani has played for a club: Paris Saint-Germain (2013 - 2020)

Cavani plays as a striker for Argentine Primera División club, the Boca Juniors. He has played for six more clubs, including SSC Napoli and PSG. Of all the teams Edinson Cavani has played for, he spent the most years, around seven years, with PSG.

9. Ronaldinho - Retired

Full name: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira

Born: 21 March 1980

Age: 43 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Midfielder
Total penalties scored: 70

Total penalties missed: 17

Total penalties: 87

Career duration: 1998 - 2015

No. of clubs he played for: 8

The longest time Ronaldinho has played for club: Barcelona (2003 - 2008)

Gaúcho, or simply Ronaldinho, became a favorite of many and a household name among billions of soccer fans worldwide because of his magical playing skills.
Besides bending free kicks into the net, soccer legend Ronaldinho could also easily score penalties.

8. Alan Shearer - Retired

Full name: Alan Shearer CBE DL

Born: 13 August 1970

Age: 53 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: English

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 72

Total penalties missed: 5

Total penalties: 77

Career duration: 1998 - 2006

No. of clubs he played for: 3

The longest time Shearer has played for a club: Newcastle (1996 - 2006)

Alan Shearer was one of the best strikers of all time and the Premier League's record goalscorer, with 260 goals. He is also among the soccer players with the most penalty goals in the Premier League, with 56 goals. Alan Shearer played for Blackburn, Newcastle, and Southampton between 1998 and 2006 and scored 72 penalties. He only missed five.

7. Alessandro Del Piero - Retired

Full name: Alessandro Del Piero Ufficiale OMRI

Born: 9 November 1974

Age: 49 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Italian

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 77

Total penalties missed: 15

Total penalties: 92

Career duration: 1991 - 2014

No. of clubs he played for: 4

The longest time Del Piero has played for a club: Juventus (1993 - 2012)

The Juventus legend scored 77 times from the spot during his career. He is among the leading scorers in the history of Serie A and Juventus's all-time top scorers, with 290 goals. Del Piero retired from playing football in 2012 after being in the profession for almost two decades.

6. Zlatan Ibrahimović - Retired

Full name: Zlatan Ibrahimović

Born: 3 October 1981

Age: 42 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Swedish

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 85

Total penalties missed: 17

Total penalties: 102

Career duration: 1999 - 2023

No. of clubs he played for: 11

The longest time Ibrahimović has played for a club: Paris SG (2012 - 2016)

Ibrahimović calls himself the "football lion." The legend was known for his acrobatic strikes and volleys, technique, and ball control. Zlatan Ibrahimović defied all odds to become one of the best strikers ever. He only missed 17 penalties from 102 opportunities he got.

5. Francesco Totti - Retired

Full name: Francesco Totti Ufficiale OMRI

Born: 27 September 1976

Age: 47 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Italian

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 86

Total penalties missed: 20

Total penalties: 106

Career duration: 1993 - 2017

No. of clubs he played for: 1

The longest time Totti has played for a club: AS Roma (1993 - 2017)

Totti only played for AS Roma the entire time he was a soccer player. He is considered one of the best strikers ever, having netted 86 penalties and only missed 12. Francesco Totti also played for the Italian national soccer team.

4. Roberto Baggio - Retired

Full name: Roberto Baggio OMRI

Born: 18 February 1967

Age: 56 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Italian

Position: Midfielder

Total penalties scored: 100

Total penalties missed: 18

Total penalties: 118

Career duration: 1982 - 2004

No. of clubs he played for: 7

The longest time Baggio has played for a club: Juventus (1990 - 1995)

Baggio was capable of playing in several offensive positions but mainly played as a second striker or attacking midfielder. He played for Italy in 56 matches, scoring 27 goals. As a result, Roberto Baggio is the joint fourth-highest goal scorer for his national team, alongside Alessandro Del Piero. He played for seven clubs in his senior career and scored 100 penalty goals.

3. Ronald Koeman - Retired

Full name: Francesco Totti Ufficiale OMRI

Born: 21 March 1963

Age: 60 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Dutch

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 111

Total penalties missed: 7

Total penalties: 118

Career duration: 1980 - 1997

No. of clubs he played for: 5

The longest time Koeman has played for a club: PSV Eindhoven (1989 - 1995)

Koeman is considered one of the best attacking center-backs of all time. He was capable of playing both as a defender and as a midfielder. Ronald Koeman was known for his goal-scoring, long-range shooting, and accuracy from free kicks and penalties. The retired Dutch player scored over 250 goals while playing in defense for most of his career.

2. Lionel Messi - Inter Miami

Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi

Born: 24 June 1987

Age: 36 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Argentine

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 109

Total penalties missed: 31

Total penalties: 140

Career duration: 2004 - date

No. of clubs he played for: 3

Current teams: Inter Miami CF, Argentina national football team

The longest time Messi has played for a club: Barcelona (2003 - 2021)

Messi captains Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. He is second with the most penalty goals in the history. Leo Messi has spent most of his senior career with Barcelona. Despite netting 109 penalties, the player has also missed the most penalties in history, 31.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Al Nassr

Full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM

Born: 5 February 1985

Age: 38 years (as of 2023)

Nationality: Portuguese

Position: Striker

Total penalties scored: 157

Total penalties missed: 29

Total penalties: 186

Career duration: 2002 - present

No. of clubs he played for: 6

Current teams: Al-Nassr FC, Portugal national football team

The longest time Ronaldo has played for a club: Real Madrid (2009 - 2018)

The Portuguese striker captains the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Portugal national team. He holds the record for netting the most goals from the spot, 157, and is also the second player, after Messi, to have missed the most penalties, 29. Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to reach 700 goals after scoring for Manchester United in a 2-1 home win over Everton on 9 October 2022.