Portugal and Al Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s most prolific goal scorers, has added an unwelcome record to his decorated career.
Following his penalty miss against Ireland on Saturday, saved by Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner now holds the record for the most penalty misses in football history.
According to Planet Football on Monday, Ronaldo’s tally of failed spot-kicks has reached 34. However, this record comes with context: Ronaldo has also taken more penalties than any other player in the history of the game, attempting 211 and converting an impressive 177. This gives him an 83.8% success rate—well above the global average for penalty takers.
In the modern era, here are the seven players who have missed the most penalties:
7. Ronaldinho – 16 Misses
The Brazilian legend, known for his flair and technique, registered an 81.1% success rate from the spot. One of his most memorable misses came in 2013 against England, where Joe Hart made a brilliant double save to stop him.
6. Zlatan Ibrahimović – 17 Misses
The Swedish striker, famed for his confidence and power, converted 87 penalties while missing 17, with an 83.6% conversion rate. However, upon his return to AC Milan in 2020, his form from the spot dipped, scoring just six of his final 12 attempts—a 50% rate.
5. Ciro Immobile – 19 Misses
Immobile, now playing for Besiktas, recently surpassed Ibrahimović’s tally after missing two of his last seven spot-kicks. Over his career, he’s taken 105 penalties, scoring 86 and missing 19, giving him an 81.9% success rate.
4. Francesco Totti – 20 Misses
The AS Roma icon was clinical in his later years, remarkably scoring 13 consecutive penalties before retiring. Across his career, he took 106 penalties, converting 86 for an impressive 81.1% success rate.
3. Neymar – 22 Misses
Neymar’s reputation as a calm finisher doesn’t exempt him from this list. Out of 113 attempts, he’s scored 91 and missed 22, with an 80.5% success rate. His record in France with PSG was particularly strong, he scored 28 of 31 penalties, translating to a 90.3% conversion rate. Since rejoining Santos, he has maintained a perfect penalty record, scoring both of his attempts.
2. Lionel Messi – 32 Misses
Before being surpassed by Ronaldo, Messi held the record for the most missed penalties. Known more for open-play brilliance than penalty prowess, the Argentine’s conversion rate stands at 77.9%. In total, he has taken 145 penalties, scoring 113 and missing 32. Since joining Inter Miami, he’s often deferred penalty duties to his teammates.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 34 Misses
Ronaldo now leads the list with 34 missed penalties, including four in his last 16 attempts over the past year. His latest failed effort came against Ireland, where Caoimhin Kelleher saved his strike from 12 yards. Despite this record, Ronaldo remains the player with the most successful penalties in history (177), reflecting his longevity and consistency at the highest level.
Though the unwanted title may sting, his 83.8% conversion rate still places him among the world’s best penalty takers—proof of both his resilience and his remarkable goal-scoring legacy.
What You Should Know
Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest penalty miss against Ireland makes him the player with the most missed penalties in football history—34 in total.
Despite this, he remains the most prolific penalty scorer of all time, with 177 goals from 211 attempts. His consistency and success rate of 83.8% continue to affirm his status as one of football’s greatest finishers.
