Top 5 footballers with the most penalty misses: Another competition between Messi and Ronaldo

The debate around the player with the most penalty missed in football history highlights one brutal truth about elite football: the more responsibility you carry, the more risk you absorb. Taking penalties is not only about technique but also about mental endurance across seasons in the Champions League, World Cup qualifiers, and domestic title races.

In modern football, penalty duties are usually reserved for superstars. These players take spot kicks year after year in decisive matches, which naturally increases both their goal tally and their number of misses. Therefore, appearing in this ranking is not a mark of failure but of longevity, consistency, and elite status.

Below is the definitive top five ranking, revealed by livescore808 structured from number five to the current record holder, based purely on total penalties missed in official competitions.

5 Player with the most penalty missed in football history

5. Ciro Immobile

Immobile remains one of Italy’s most consistent scorers over the past decade. Currently playing for Besiktas, he has continued to shoulder penalty responsibility. Across his professional career, he has taken 105 penalties, scoring 86 and missing 19. That produces a strong 81.9 percent conversion rate.

Despite two recent misses in his last seven attempts, his overall numbers remain comfortably above average. His presence in this ranking reflects longevity and trust rather than inefficiency.

4. Francesco Totti

The legend who spent his entire career with AS Roma. Totti was not only an iconic player of Giallorossi, but also a sensitive forward. His penalty evolution was remarkable. During the final four and a half seasons of his Roma career, he did not miss a single spot kick and converted his final 13 consecutive penalties before retirement.

Over his entire career, he took 106 penalties, scoring 86 and missing 20. While that total places him fourth on this list, his late career composure demonstrated technical refinement and psychological maturity from twelve yards.

3. Neymar

Known for creativity and flair, Neymar has also accumulated 22 missed penalties across his career. In total, he has taken 113 spot kicks and converted 91, giving him an 80.5 percent success rate.

His penalty record at Paris Saint Germain was particularly impressive, scoring 28 of 31 attempts in France, a 90.3 percent conversion rate. Since rejoining Santos earlier this year, he has maintained a perfect record from the spot so far.

2. Lionel Messi

For many years, Messi held the unwanted record for the most missed penalties in football history before being overtaken. He has taken 144 penalties in official matches, scoring 112 and missing 32.

His overall conversion rate stands at 77.9 percent, slightly above professional average. Although penalty taking has never been the strongest aspect of his game, he improved significantly in later seasons and occasionally shares duties at Inter Miami.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo currently holds the record as the player with the most penalty missed in football history, with 36 misses. Over the past year alone, he has missed five of his last 20 attempts, including a notable save against Ireland.

Across his career, he has taken 218 penalties and scored 182, more than any other player in recorded history. Despite leading this list, his 83.5 percent conversion rate remains well above average, reinforcing that volume and longevity drive this record.

5 player with the most penalty missed in football history

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (36 misses)

2. Lionel Messi (32 misses)

3. Neymar (22 misses)

4. Francesco Totti (20 misses)

5. Ciro Immobile (19 misses)

Being the player with the most penalty missed in football history does not indicate weakness. Instead, it highlights durability, leadership, and sustained elite performance. Only players who consistently carry responsibility across decades can accumulate such high totals.

As football continues to evolve with data analysis and psychological training, penalty efficiency is improving across top leagues. Yet the pressure of decisive moments will always remain. Records may change, but the courage to step forward from 11-meter spot will always define the game’s greatest competitors.

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