Among the most pressure-inducing moments in football, nothing compares to stepping up to take a penalty kick. Standing in front of the goalkeeper amidst the cheers of the crowd is a huge mental and physical challenge. The moment of taking a penalty kick is not for the faint of heart, and over the years we have witnessed some stars collapse under this pressure, while others have emerged as true heroes from the spot.
However, scoring from penalties has been part of the burden placed on Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, as some believe he has greatly benefited from them to increase his goal tally.
Social media users have nicknamed Ronaldo "Benaldo" in reference to his numerous penalty goals.
Ronaldo leads the list of all-time top scorers in football history with 928 goals, some of which have come from penalty kicks, both for his clubs and for the Portuguese national team.
The following list reviews the ten players who have scored the most penalty kicks in the 21st century:
10- Ciro Immobile (84 penalties)
The 35-year-old Italian, who currently plays for Besiktas in Turkey, is known for his prolific goal-scoring ability. Immobile is best known for his career with Lazio, where he scored 317 goals, 26% of which were from penalties. He continues to perform well in the Turkish Super League.
9- Dusan Tadic (85 penalties)
Former Southampton and Ajax star Dusan Tadic has just one penalty kick ahead of Immobile. The Serbian, who now plays for Fenerbahçe in Turkey, boasts an impressive record. Penalties accounted for 35 percent of his 246 total goals. This makes him one of the most effective players from the penalty spot.
8- Francesco Totti (86 Penalties)
"Capitano Roma," Francesco Totti, spent his entire career with the Italian capital club, becoming a symbol of loyalty and creativity. Totti scored 86 penalties out of 572 total goals, representing 27 percent of his goals.
His ability to handle intense pressure has made him a legend of the game.
7- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (87 Penalties)
The great Swedish striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, known for his high self-confidence and boldness on the pitch, did not disappoint from the penalty spot. Zlatan scored 87 penalties throughout his 24-year career, with clubs such as Milan, Manchester United, and Barcelona. Penalties accounted for only 15 percent of Ibrahimovic's 572 goals.
6- Robert Lewandowski (88 Penalties)
Lewandowski, one of the best strikers of his generation, is one penalty ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with a total of 687 goals in his career, only 13 percent of which came from penalties. However, his continued high-level scoring at Barcelona, even at the age of 36, demonstrates his prowess.
5- Neymar (88 Penalties)
Brazilian Neymar shares fifth place with Lewandowski, but has a higher percentage of penalty kicks as a percentage of his total goals. Neymar has scored 88 of his 443 goals, or 20 percent. With his brilliance for Santos, Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar has always been a reliable source of confidence from the penalty spot.
4- Harry Kane (88 Penalties)
England and Tottenham Hotspur's all-time top scorer is no stranger to penalty kicks. With 441 goals in his career, 20 percent of them have come from the penalty spot. His move to Bayern Munich could be the beginning of more silverware, after years of personal brilliance.
3- Lionel Messi (109 Penalties)
The Argentine is significantly ahead of Harry Kane in third place with 109 penalties scored this century. Whether for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, or the Argentine national team, Messi has had little difficulty scoring from the spot. However, penalties only account for 13 percent of his incredible total, with 852 goals scored to date.
Messi is not only the best overall scorer, but his versatility and ability to score from a variety of situations makes him a unique example in the history of the game.
2- Hulk (116 Penalties)
Hulk is seven ahead of Messi, placing him second on the list with 116 penalties scored. Known for his distinctive combination of blazing speed and tremendous physical strength, the Brazilian striker has never reached the pinnacle of world football and has never played in one of Europe's top five leagues. However, he has left a lasting impression wherever he has played, whether in the Russian league with Zenit St. Petersburg or in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG.
Penalties account for 27 percent of Hulk's 435 total goals, an impressive figure that reflects his ability in front of goal. However, his numbers pale in comparison to the leader in this list.
1- Cristiano Ronaldo (173 Penalties)
As the all-time leading scorer in football, it's only natural that Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list of players with the most penalty kicks. The Portuguese star has always maintained his calm in crucial moments, making him the first-choice penalty taker for every club he has played for, whether it's Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, or even the Portuguese national team.
Ronaldo has scored 173 goals from penalties throughout his career, a significant jump from second place.
Although he's sometimes accused of relying on penalties, these goals represent only 19 percent of his total of 928 goals, reflecting his great versatility in scoring from a variety of situations.
