When it comes to being a football icon, goals, trophies, and unforgettable performances often define a career. However, even the greatest footballers have their moments of imperfection—especially from the penalty spot. Surprisingly, several football icons have consistently missed penalties, proving that even the best can falter under pressure.
In this article, we explore the top 10 football icons who have missed the most penalties since 2001. These are not average players but legends of the game who have carried the weight of expectation on their shoulders in the most high-stakes moments.
10. Edinson Cavani
- Missed Penalties: 14
Cavani, known for his poaching ability, has missed 14 penalties across his career. While boasting a solid 81.6% conversion rate, most of his missed penalties occurred during his time at Napoli. At PSG and Manchester United, he rarely took spot-kicks due to stiff competition from teammates.
9. Sergio Aguero
- Missed Penalties: 14
Despite scoring numerous goals for Manchester City, Aguero missed 14 penalties. His infamous panenka miss against Chelsea in 2021 hurt his stats. With a 77.4% success rate, his conversion wasn’t poor, but the volume of missed chances stood out.
8. Antonio Di Natale
- Missed Penalties: 14
A Serie A legend, Di Natale missed 14 of the 44 penalties he took, yielding a 75.8% success rate. Known for his sharp finishing, his penalty technique didn’t match his open-play prowess. Still, he retired as Udinese’s all-time top scorer.
7. Ronaldinho
- Missed Penalties: 16
Ronaldinho is celebrated more for his free kicks than penalties, but he was often called upon for spot-kick duties. He missed 16 penalties in total, most of them during his time at Barcelona and AC Milan. Still, his creative flair made him a football icon.
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6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Missed Penalties: 17
Zlatan took 104 penalties in his career and missed 17, with a strong 83.6% success rate. His confidence and unique style defined his approach, but even he was not immune to high-pressure failures from the spot.
5. Neymar
- Missed Penalties: 18
Neymar’s penalty style involves a slow, calculated run-up. He’s missed 18 out of 105 penalties, translating to an 82.9% conversion rate. Most of his misses occurred during his time with PSG and Brazil, yet he’s still considered a reliable taker.
4. Francesco Totti
- Missed Penalties: 18
Totti was one of Roma’s greatest football icons. Despite his high conversion rate of 81.1%, he missed 18 penalties. Remarkably, he didn’t miss any penalties in his last four and a half seasons, showing incredible focus toward the end of his career.
3. Ciro Immobile
- Missed Penalties: 19
With 19 missed penalties and an 81.5% success rate, Immobile ranks third. Most of his misses occurred during his Lazio days, although he has recently added to that tally while playing for Besiktas in Turkey.
2. Lionel Messi
- Missed Penalties: 31
Messi has missed 31 penalties but still maintains a respectable 77.9% conversion rate. While he’s had high-pressure successes, like in the 2022 World Cup, he’s also had notable failures such as the 2016 Copa America Final.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
- Missed Penalties: 32
Ronaldo leads the list with 32 penalty misses. However, his 84.4% conversion rate is among the highest. Known for taking penalties in critical moments, Ronaldo has faced the pressure more than anyone, and his occasional blunders are a testament to the intensity of the task.
| Rank | Player | Current Club | Penalties Missed | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | 32 | 84.4% |
| 2 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 31 | 77.9% |
| 3 | Ciro Immobile | Besiktas | 19 | 81.5% |
| 4 | Francesco Totti | Retired | 18 | 81.1% |
| 5 | Neymar | Al Hilal | 18 | 82.9% |
| 6 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Retired | 17 | 83.6% |
| 7 | Ronaldinho | Retired | 16 | 81.1% |
| 8 | Antonio Di Natale | Retired | 14 | 75.8% |
| 9 | Sergio Aguero | Retired | 14 | 77.4% |
| 10 | Edinson Cavani | Boca Juniors | 14 | 81.6% |
FAQs :
1. Who missed the most penalties in football history since 2001?
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for most penalties missed since 2001 with 32 misses.
2. Does missing penalties affect a player’s legacy?
Not necessarily. Many football icons like Messi and Ronaldo remain legends despite their missed penalties.
3. Who has the best conversion rate among players with many misses?
Cristiano Ronaldo has the best conversion rate (84.4%) among the top penalty missers.
4. Are penalty misses in shootouts included in this list?
No. Only regular match penalties are counted in this ranking.