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Top 10 Players With Most Penalties Missed in 21st Century

Interestingly this list contains some of the best penalty kick takers and specialists in football history.

Hardik Malhotra
Hardik Malhotra

Last Updated: 2024-08-19

7 minutes read

Lionel Messi of Argentina in the penalty shoot out during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024

Lionel Messi//Getty Images

Penalties are a very big part of football and have played a key part in some of the biggest matches in history.

It is also important to learn how and why a penalty is awarded. A penalty kick is awarded if a player commits a direct free-kick offence inside their own penalty area. Penalty kicks are also awarded if there is a handball offence inside the penalty box. Once a penalty is awarded, the opposition team has the chance to score from 12 yards in front of the centre of the goal

While some players make it seem almost impossible to miss a penalty ever, but that is not the case, even the best set-piece takers have also missed penalties at some point in their careers.

Here we take a look at the top 10 players with the most penalties missed in football history. 

The players with most penalties missed in 21st century

Rank Name Nationality Current ClubPenalties missed 
1Lionel Messi Argentina Inter Miami 31
2Cristiano RonaldoPortugalAl Nassr30
3Francesco TottiItalyRetired17
4Neymar BrazilAl Hilal17
5Zlatan IbrahimovicSwedenRetired17
6Ciro ImmobileItalyBesiktas16
7Antonio Di NataleItalyRetired 15
8Edinson Cavani Uruguay Boca Juniors 14
9Sergio Aguero ArgentinaRetired 13
10RonaldinhoBrazilRetired 13
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10. Ronaldinho (13 penalties missed)

Kicking off the list is Brazilian legend Ronaldinho. He played his last professional match in 2015 for Fluminense, officially announcing his retirement from the beautiful game in 2018. But he remains one of the most talked about players in world football. The Brazilian superstar was known for his tricks and flair, he played for some of the biggest clubs in the world including FC Barcelona, PSG and AC Milan. The Brazilian star missed 13 penalties in the 21st century.

9. Sergio Aguero (13 penalties missed)

Sergio Aguero, also known as Kun Aguero, will go down in history as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history and the player who scored possibly the most famous goal in the English top flight. Aguero played a key role in Man City’s rise to the top and dominance in the Premier League.

The Argentine star had to retire from football in December 2021 at the age of 33 due to a heart condition. Aguero missed a total of 14 penalty kicks in his senior playing career, scoring 48.

8. Edinson Cavani (14 penalties missed)

Edinson Cavani of Manchester United scores their team's fifth penalty

Edinson Cavani of Manchester United scores their team's fifth penalty//Getty

Edinson Cavani is one of the best strikers of our generation. Often described as a ‘fox in the box’, Cavani led the Uruguay front line for over a decade alongside Luis Suarez.

Cavani was PSG’s all-time top scorer with 200 goals in 301 games for the club before the record was broken and overtaken by French star Kylian Mabappe. The Uruguayan striker has missed just 14 penalties in his entire career while scoring an impressive 62 goals from the spot kick. Interestingly, he has never missed from the penalty spot in international football. 

7. Antonio Di Natale (14 penalties missed)

Antonio Di Natale is an Udinese legend, who still holds the club’s record for most goals (191) and most appearances (385) in the Serie A. He made 42 appearances for his national side Italy, scoring 11 goals.

Antonio Di Natale took 58 penalties in his career, missing 14 and scoring from the remaining 44 spot kicks. The Italian striker retired from football in 2016.

6. Ciro Immobile (16 penalties missed)

The Lazio player Ciro Immobile during the match Lazio-Inter at the Stadio Olimpico

Ciro Immobile during the match Lazio-Inter at the Stadio Olimpico//Getty

Ciro Immobile joined Turkish club Besiktas in the summer of 2024. He did the best work of his career with Serie A side Lazio, after joining the club from Sevilla in 2026. He went on to score a club-record 207 goals in 340 appearances. He was also a key part of Italy’s UEFA Euro triumph in 2021.

Immobile has missed 16 penalties in his senior playing career, missing four of them during the 2020-21 season for Lazio. 

5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (17 penalties missed)

‘The Lion’ played for some of the biggest clubs in the world including FC Barcelona, Manchester United, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Ajax, PSG, while also having stints in the MLS. He brought success and goals to every club he played for.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 goals. He represented his national side at two FIFA World Cups (2002 and 2006) and four UEFA Euros (2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016). Ibrahimovic was always full of confidence and that is why many may not remember him missing any penalties. But the Swedish striker missed 17 penalties in his playing career while scoring an impressive 87 goals from the penalty spot. He retired from football in June 2023 at the age of 41. 

4. Neymar (17 penalties missed)

 Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring the team's second goal from a penalty during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

 Neymar celebrating after scoring the team's second goal from a penalty//Getty

Neymar still remains one of the best penalty kick-takers in the world.  The Brazilian superstar can claim to be only one of few players in history that has directly led to a rule change by FIFA. Early on in his career during his days with Santos, Neymar used to take spot kicks by just stopping before kicking the ball and waiting for the keeper to dive and put it in the opposite corner, this led to FIFA changing the penalty kick rules.

Now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League with Al Hilal, the Brazilian remains one of the most talked about players in world football. He has missed 17 penalties in his career (scoring 74 of 91 attempted penalties)

3. Francesco Totti (17 penalties missed)

The 2006 FIFA World Cup winner with Italy, Francesco Totti is a one-club legend, having spent his entire career with Serie A side AS Roma. Francesco Totti made a total of 786 appearances for the Italian club scoring a club record 307 goals.

The Italian star missed a total of 20 penalty kicks in his playing career, missing 17 of these in the 21st century. He also scored an impressive 86 goals from the penalty spot during his long career. 

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (30 penalties missed)

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal takes a penalty in the shoot out during the UEFA EURO 2024.

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a penalty//Getty

Cristiano Ronaldo is often considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and often as the greatest goalscorer in history. Ronaldo has been ever-reliable from the penalty spot, scoring an incredible 163 goals from the spot kick in his illustrious career.

The Portuguese star now plays his football in the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, but still remains the all-time top scorer in men’s international football and competitions like the UEFA Champions League. He also has the record for the most penalties scored in football history (163).

But as the famous quote goes “Even the best fall down sometimes”, Ronaldo has also missed 30 penalties in his career. 

1. Lionel Messi (31 penalties missed)

Lionel Messi taking penatly

Lionel Messi taking penalty//Getty

Surprisingly both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are near the top of the list for most penalties missed in the 21st century. Leading this list is the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi with 31 penalties missed in his career.

However, when it mattered the most, Lionel Messi once again stepped up, converting four out of five penalties taken at the FIFA World Cup 2022, even lifting the trophy after a penalty shootout win over France. Lionel Messi has scored a grand total of 110 penalties in his career. 

Hardik Malhotra
Hardik MalhotraSports Writer

With over a decade of experience in sports writing, Hardik Malhotra has built a distinguished career in the internet industry. His expertise spans across various domains including Art Direction, Web Content Writing, and Content Management, all underscored by a high degree of initiative. Hardik’s passion for sports is reflected in his professional journey and personal interests.