Top 10 Best Penalty Taker in the World (2025)

Which names come to your mind when we speak about the best penalty taker in the world? What is the toughest thing for a footballer to do? Is it scoring an Olympic goal, or curling the ball into the net from a free-kick from 40 yards out? Rather, it is the penalty or spot kick, which, although it looks easy, during clutch or tense situations, can compel even the best in the world to see their shot saved. Many footballers who have retired or are still playing know how difficult it is to maintain calm and score from the spot. Even greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have seen their penalty kicks being saved or miss the target, and that has cost their respective teams too. In this article, however, we will look at the best penalty taker in the world.

List of Best Penalty Takers in the World Currently

We have shortlisted 10 best penalty taker in the world, who are currently the best in the world when it comes to converting from the spot. Most of these players are currently playing in the world’s best leagues and have been in the limelight for quite some time.

How We Ranked the Best Penalty Taker in the World?

We have set up a few parameters in order to adjudge who is the best penalty taker in the world right now. There are 10 players in the aforementioned list and all these players fulfil the parameters mentioned below.

Penalties scored: The first criterion is to check how many spot kicks they have converted to date.

Conversion rate: The second most important factor is their conversion rate. The player with the lowest conversion rate has been ranked 10th, and the one with the best conversion rate sits atop.

Penalties missed: Another crucial element is how many penalties the respective player has missed. The one with the most penalties missed has been ranked 10th, and the one with the best conversion is ranked highly.

Success in high-stakes matches: Every game is important for a footballer, and for the best penalty taker in the world right now to be decided, it is important that they net the ball from the spot in the important situations, which can help their team salvage a win or even a trophy.

Who is the Best Penalty Taker in the World Right Now?

All 10 players in this list are the best in the world; however, only one such player exists who has never missed a penalty. The greats, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have not been included in the article, and this might surprise the readers, but those who are present are undoubtedly better than them in converting from the spot and can be labelled as the best penalty taker for their team or country or even in the world.

10. Sergio Ramos (CF Monterrey & Spain)

Ramos, the former Spanish national team and Real Madrid defender, is the only defender in this list who has been clinical from the spot. The 39-year-old plays for CF Monterrey in the Mexican top tier and is currently featuring for them in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. He has scored 34 penalties, missed only five, and has an 87.17% conversion rate.

9. Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway)

Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal-machine, is a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and leads the line for his country. Ever since his Borussia Dortmund days, he has been a clinical goal-getter, rising to the occasion in tough situations to bail his team out. The 24-year-old has scored 50 goals from the spot and missed just eight, and has a conversion rate of 86.20%.

8. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan & Turkiye)

The Turkish midfielder, Calhanoglu, is an important member of the Inter Milan setup and helps in dictating play from the centre of the park. He is a proven playmaker who helps his team score goals. However, when it comes to scoring from the spot, he does not shy away. The 31-year-old has converted 46 penalties and missed just six, and has a conversion rate of 88.4%, making him one of the best penalty takers in the world.

7. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)

Harry Kane, who recently won the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich, which was also his first trophy, is a penalty specialist. Not only does he like scoring from open play, but he also relishes when it comes to converting from the spot. The 31-year-old, who is currently one of the best strikers in the world, has recorded 100 penalties, scoring 89 and missing just 11, and has a conversion rate of 89%.

6. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona & Poland)

Barcelona’s Polish ace, Robert Lewandowski, is one of the most clinical strikers in world football right now. Be it Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona, whenever the team needs a goal, he always steps up with authority. He does not back out when it comes to converting from the spot, as he has scored 88 penalties and missed just 10, recording a conversion rate of 89.7%.

5. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal)

Vitinha, who recently won the treble at Paris Saint-Germain and played a crucial part in their 5-0 drubbing of Inter in the UEFA Champions League finale, is currently the best penalty taker in the world. He has scored all of the 12 penalties and missed only once; he has a conversion rate of 92.30%, declaring him one of the best among the rest in this list.

4. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United & Portugal)

When it comes to staying calm and looking into the goalkeeper’s eyes before taking a penalty kick, no one can do it better than Bruno Fernandes. From creating his style of run-up to a penalty kick to becoming one of the best penalty takers in the world, he is simply a legend when it comes to spot kicks, and of course, one of the most reliable penalty takers too. He has scored 61 penalties and missed just six, and has a conversion rate of 91.04%.

3. Joao Pedro (Brighton & Brazil)

Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has been one of the most clinical finishers in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion in recent times. At just 23, he has recorded a penalty conversion rate of 94.73%. He has scored 18 penalties so far and has missed only once. He has three international caps for Brazil and could be a lethal option for them heading into the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026 if Carlo Ancelotti recognises his potential.

2. Cole Palmer (Chelsea & England)

Chelsea’s most impactful player from the recently concluded Premier League edition, Cole Palmer, is one of the best penalty takers in the world and the ‘second best’ among active English footballers. He has missed just one penalty so far, scoring the rest of the 18, and has amassed a conversion rate of 94.73%.

1. Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli & England)

If Cole Palmer is the second best, then definitely, it is his fellow England star Ivan Toney, who sits atop among the English penalty takers. Currently plying his trade for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, Toney has seven international caps for the Three Lions. He is a dominant force when it comes to scoring from the spot, as he has netted 42 penalties and missed just two, recording a conversion rate of 95.45%.