Dead-ball specialists: Ranking the 10 best penalty takers in world football currently

Dead-ball specialists: Ranking the 10 best penalty takers in world football currently

New Delhi: Penalties are often regarded as one of the easiest situations to score from yet they can be the toughest ones considering the situation. That is one of the reasons teams have dedicated penalty takers, someone the manager entrusts to deliver from the spot when they need it the most. Penalties can be very daunting at crucial moments and it’s very easy to fluff your lines, 12 yards from the goal.

More often than not, most of the important knockout games are decided via penalty shootouts and missing from the spot can sometimes make or break a final. John Terry’s slip during the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League final costed Chelsea their first ever European trophy whereas Arjen Robben’s penalty miss in the added time of the 2012 UCL final deprived Bayern Munich from lifting the title in front of their home supporters at Allianz Arena.

Football never fails to deliver its fair share of drama, intensity, and suspense. The world’s top teams live for the chance to lift the biggest trophies, and often, that all comes down to penalties. Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022, clinched over France in a nail-biting shootout, had fans back home holding their breath with every kick. Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph also came about on penalties, making it extremely necessary for these sides to have designated and trusted penalty takers.

Criteria for the rankings

We’ve compiled a ranking of the top 10 penalty takers worldwide, focusing purely on conversion rate. That means legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi—despite their incredible careers—don’t make the cut, as each has missed over 30 penalties. And with retirement on the horizon for both, it feels fitting to highlight other sharpshooters dominating from the spot.

The Top 10 Penalty Takers in the World Currently

Rank
Player Name
Club
Penalties Taken
Penalties Scored

Conversion Rate

10
Sergio Ramos
Free Agent
37
32
86.49%

9
Romelu Lukaku
Napoli
44
38
86.36%

8
Harry Kane
Bayern Munich
92
81
88.04%

7
Erling Haaland
Manchester City
52
46
88.46%

6
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
93
83
89.25%

5
Hakan Calhanoglu
Inter
48
43
89.58%

4
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
61
55
90.16%

3
Joao Pedro
Brighton and Hove Albion
14
13
92.86%

2
Ivan Toney
Al-Ahli
32
30
93.75%

1
Cole Palmer
Chelsea
15
15
100.00%

 While fans may not give as much credit to a penalty taker as they deserve, converting from the spot consistently requires a lot of mental strength. Let’s dive in to find out who is the best at doing so currently.  Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today