In football, penalties are not only an important scoring opportunity but also a psychological and technical challenge for players. To become an excellent penalty taker, players need not only strength and accuracy but also composure during stressful moments. So, who is the penalty king in football? Let's explore with Wintips the players with the most impressive penalty skills and conversion rates through the article below!
Who is the penalty king in football?
10. Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
Who is the king of penalty in football? Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus, he has taken over the penalty-taking duties that were previously held by Paulo Dybala. Both are safe and reliable penalty takers for the Bianconeri, giving the team peace of mind in decisive situations. However, despite Ronaldo's presence, Dybala continues to show his class every time he steps up to take a penalty.
Dybala often uses a unique style of free kicks, starting slowly and then suddenly accelerating, thereby deceiving the opposing goalkeeper. This helps him create unexpected and effective finishes. As of now, Dybala has taken 26 penalties for Juventus, scoring 22 goals and missing only 4. His success rate in penalty situations remains very high, proving Dybala's calmness and technique in intense moments.
9. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Harry Kane is regarded as one of the best penalty takers in the world and has consistently been one of the top strikers in Europe for many years. With perfect technique and confidence, Kane is always reliable from the 11-meter mark. Whether playing for Tottenham or the England national team, he remains the first-choice penalty taker and rarely disappoints fans.
Kane's penalty shooting style is very diverse and unpredictable. He can fool the goalkeeper with smart shots. Even when the opponent guesses the direction correctly, saving the shot is still very difficult because Kane often places the ball into dangerous angles with powerful force.
In his career, the England captain has taken a total of 44 penalties, of which 37 were successful. Kane's high success rate not only highlights his composure and accuracy but also reinforces his status as one of the greatest strikers in world football today.
8. Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace)
Crystal Palace have always been a formidable team when it comes to winning penalties thanks to their fast attacking players, especially Wilfried Zaha. However, what makes opponents even more wary is Luka Milivojevic's excellence in penalty situations.
The Serbian midfielder brings stability to the midfield. He is also renowned for his calm and accurate penalty-taking abilities. When facing Palace, teams must be cautious to avoid committing fouls in the penalty area. With Milivojevic on the penalty spot, saving the shot becomes nearly impossible.
Since joining Crystal Palace, Milivojevic has converted 21 out of 24 penalties, missing only two. His last miss came in October 2018. With a conversion rate of nearly 88%, he is regarded as one of the best penalty-takers in world football. His powerful finishing and composure have enabled Milivojevic to place the ball in near-impossible positions. This achievement not only demonstrates his reliability in crucial moments but also underscores his importance to the Palace squad. In modern football, few players can maintain such a high success rate, affirming Milivojevic's class and unique reliability from the penalty spot.
7. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Sergio Ramos, the captain of Real Madrid, is considered one of the best penalty-takers in the world. Ramos's crafty playing style extends to his penalty-taking technique, making him unpredictable and effective. After Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Ramos assumed penalty-taking duties and excelled, making significant contributions to Real Madrid. This season, he has scored 11 goals in La Liga, with 6 coming from the penalty spot.
When taking penalties, Ramos often runs slowly and pauses to observe the goalkeeper's movement before shooting toward the opposite corner. His confidence and composure have helped him score 19 consecutive penalties since his last miss in May 2018. Since the beginning of his career, Ramos has successfully converted 26 out of 29 penalties, affirming his position as one of the most reliable penalty specialists in world football.
6. James Milner (Liverpool)
James Milner is considered one of the world's best penalty takers, reflecting his calm and assured style of play. Without any unnecessary movement or gimmicks, the Liverpool midfielder simply runs straight at the ball and accelerates with power. This simple yet effective finishing style has made Milner one of the world's most reliable penalty takers.
With his technical preparation and ability to place the ball in difficult-to-reach areas, Milner challenges goalkeepers, even when they anticipate the shot. Throughout his career, he has converted 30 out of 35 penalties, with the most recent goal scored in November 2018 during the Champions League. This impressive record highlights Milner's consistency and confirms his expertise in high-pressure situations. Learn more about a reputable new betting site to enjoy daily football betting opportunities.
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5. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes is known for his unique and effective penalty-taking style, characterized by his signature "skip" technique. When standing at the penalty spot, the Portuguese midfielder prioritizes observing the goalkeeper's movements over aiming for a specific angle. If he notices the goalkeeper diving in one direction, Fernandes adjusts and shoots in the opposite direction, maximizing accuracy.
Since joining Manchester United, Fernandes has not only helped the team improve in terms of results but has also made his mark with his impeccable penalty-taking ability. To date, Fernandes has taken 28 penalties in his career and has failed only twice, with the most recent miss occurring in October 2018. This demonstrates his calmness and superior technique in crucial moments.
4. Jorginho (Chelsea)
Jorginho was a controversial figure when he joined Chelsea under coach Maurizio Sarri. At a time when Sarri's playing style was heavily criticized, Jorginho also had to endure a lot of pressure from the public. However, the midfielder quickly proved his worth with his distinctive defensive style, becoming one of the best defenders in the Premier League. Moreover, Jorginho's passing skills left a special mark, especially with his mischievous 'hopping' style.
In his club career, Jorginho has taken 21 penalties and has missed only once. One notable moment came in the 2017-18 season when he was still playing for Napoli. Jorginho's unique penalty-taking style always makes it difficult for goalkeepers to predict, helping him maintain a near-perfect success rate from the penalty spot.
3. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Robert Lewandowski is one of the best penalty takers of all time, possessing all the qualities of a great athlete. At nearly 32 years old, he continues to maintain impressive form, regularly scoring goals for Bayern Munich. In the 2019-20 season, Lewandowski proved his class by winning the Bundesliga "Golden Boot" with 34 goals, including 5 from the penalty spot. His contribution played a crucial role in helping Bayern dominate German football.
With excellent shooting skills, Lewandowski always knows how to place the ball in dangerous and powerful areas, making it almost impossible for goalkeepers to block. He has converted 51 out of 56 penalties, an incredible rate, proving the Polish striker's composure and accuracy every time he faces the penalty spot.
2. Ryad Boudebouz (Saint-Etienne)
Ryad Boudebouz may not be a household name to many, but the Saint-Etienne midfielder possesses exceptional penalty-taking skills. Boudebouz stands out with his short run-up and gentle finishing style, yet he is extremely skilled at deceiving opposing goalkeepers. His calm demeanor and ability to read situations help him convert penalties with incredible accuracy.
In his club career, Boudebouz has missed a penalty only once, in the 2012-13 season. To date, he has successfully converted 23 out of 24 penalties, a near-perfect ratio, demonstrating his formidable ability as a penalty specialist.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best penalty takers. With an impressive penalty conversion rate, the Portuguese superstar has scored 126 goals from 11m kicks, a number that surpasses those of any other player in the modern football era. His cool finishing skills and steely spirit have helped Ronaldo turn penalties into sure goals, creating an impressive record and affirming his class.
In the early stages of his career at Manchester United, Ronaldo often used a technical free-kick style, utilizing a variety of touches to trick the goalkeeper into moving first. However, over time, he switched to a more direct style of shooting, using power and precision to place the ball in difficult-to-reach positions. Although he has missed 24 penalties in his career, Ronaldo's 126 goals are still 2.5 times greater than Robert Lewandowski's, proving that he is a master at taking advantage of free-kick situations from the penalty spot.
In Summary
Although many players are excellent at taking penalties, only a few of them are truly worthy of the title of "penalty king" in football. With outstanding skills and impressive success rates, these players not only help their teams win in decisive situations but also demonstrate their excellence on the field. Therefore, who is the penalty king in football? The answer will depend on each person's assessment, though undoubtedly, names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, or Harry Kane are always strong candidates for this title.
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