Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has broken many untouchable records across his trophy-laden career in football, but one record he won’t be proud of holding is that of most penalties missed in the 21st century.
After missing a 62nd-minute penalty for PSG against Real Madrid in a UEFA Champions League last-16 encounter, Messi has now failed to convert from the spot 30 times - the most by any player in the modern era.
The Argentine’s penalty miss also saw Leo Messi equal Thierry Henry’s record for most missed penalties in the UEFA Champions League (5).
Messi’s rival Cristiano Ronaldo is the next player on the list for most penalties missed in the 21st century. The Portuguese legend - the record holder for most career goals in football and most goals in international football - has failed to convert 29 spot-kicks.
Ronaldo most recently missed a penalty for Manchester United against Middlesbrough in the 2021-22 FA Cup. In comparison to his eternal rival Leo Messi, Ronaldo has fared marginally better from the spot.
AS Roma icon Francesco Totti missed 18 penalties during his career. Nicknamed Il Capitano (The Captain), Totti served as Roma’s primary penalty scorer and scored 77 goals from a possible 95 attempts in the 21st century.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fourth on the list for most penalties missed in the 21st century with 17 unsuccessful spot-kicks. The 40-year-old Swedish striker is celebrated as one of the most prolific attackers of his generation and served as a first-choice penalty taker for almost all of his teams, including current side AC Milan. Ibrahimovic’s last penalty miss came in a 3-1 win against AS Roma in January 2022.
Udinese legend Antonio Di Natale completes the top-five list for most penalty misses. The Italian forward, who retired from football in 2016, successfully converted 41 spot-kicks and missed 14 times.
| Player | Penalties scored | Penalties missed |
| Lionel Messi | 103 | 30 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 143 | 29 |
| Francesco Totti | 77 | 18 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | 84 | 17 |
| Antonio Di Natale | 41 | 14 |
Author: William Paul
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Featured photo: AFP /FRANCK FIFE
As someone deeply immersed in football statistics and history, I can confidently share insights on the information provided about penalties and the players mentioned in the article.
Let's dissect the concepts:
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Lionel Messi: An iconic forward, celebrated for his remarkable career with Barcelona and his subsequent move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The article highlights his unfortunate record of the most penalties missed in the 21st century, tallying up to 30 failed spot-kicks, an unexpected statistic for someone with his precision on the field.
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Thierry Henry: A former French forward, recognized for his tenure at Arsenal. While renowned for his goal-scoring prowess, he shares a record in the UEFA Champions League with Messi for most missed penalties (5).
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Cristiano Ronaldo: Messi's long-term rival, esteemed for his incredible goal-scoring abilities for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and other clubs. Despite his prolific career, Ronaldo has missed 29 penalties, placing him second in the list of most missed penalties in the 21st century.
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Francesco Totti: An AS Roma legend, known as "Il Capitano," was the primary penalty scorer for his team and converted 77 out of 95 attempts in the 21st century, missing 18 penalties during his illustrious career.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic: A Swedish striker known for his charisma and exceptional goal-scoring ability. Ibrahimovic has missed 17 penalties in his career, showcasing his role as a first-choice penalty taker for the teams he played for, including AC Milan.
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Antonio Di Natale: A retired Italian forward who notably played for Udinese and had a successful conversion rate of 41 out of 55 penalties, with 14 unsuccessful spot-kicks.
These players' penalty records offer a fascinating insight into their careers, highlighting both their proficiency and occasional shortcomings in crucial moments.
The article also underscores the significance of penalties in football, showcasing how even the most accomplished players face challenges in converting them. Such statistical analysis not only illustrates individual players' abilities but also adds an intriguing dimension to the narrative of their careers.
