Best Penalty Takers in Premier League History: Top 10 Ranked

Penalty is one of the most reliable scoring ways in football, and the forwards have always bet on their scoring skills from the spots. Since the beginning of the highly rated football competition, there have been many players who have mastered the skills of finding the back of the net from the spot. And in the ecosystem of professional football, many players have a rightful claim to become the best penalty takers in Premier League history.
Several players have etched their names in the folklore of one of the most-watched football leagues for their calm and composed finish during penalties. As it might look, taking penalties is not so easy a task. You need precision, intellect, and some nerve to turn the spot kicks into goals. And players like English star Harry Kane made it a habit to score from penalties in their Golden Boot pursuit. Now, in the ever-changing dynamic of the game, one major question remains: who are the greatest Premier League penalty takers?

Well, the list is long, but there are only a handful of individuals who have the nerve to slot it home when it matters most. At Sportsdunia, we have compiled the list of the top 10 best penalty takers in the Premier League of all time.

Top 10 Best Penalty Takers in the Premier League of all Time

It was not an easy task to list the greatest EPL penalty takers, but the records came in handy to choose the deserving ones. From giving early leads to their respective clubs to winning the game in the dying moments, these strikers have shown some nerve, stealing the limelight with just one kick of the ball.

Who are the Greatest Penalty Takers in Premier League?

Taking penalties in a packed stadium, in front of thousands, is not just any other kick, especially in one of the best football leagues in the world. It needs an ice-cold temperament. The list of the top 10 Premier League best penalty takers includes those names who have passed the grade with flying colours.

10. Bukayo Saka (Forward | England)

A young hero who learned his lesson in the hardest way possible after missing his penalty in the UEFA Euro 2020 final for England. The wonder boy of Arsenal Bukayo Saka, since then, has not only established himself as a great baller but also as a reliable figure in the box.

Once hailed as a loser, the English international Bukayo Saka has now become the number two penalty taker after Kai Havertz for the North London club Arsenal. The young English winger boasts a 91.8% conversion rate, scoring 12 out of 13 penalties. A huge number in this context, isn't it?

9. James Beattie (Striker | England)

Next, we have one of the best penalty takers in Premier League history, James Beattie, a true marksman who graced the Premier League. He has played for several English outfits, Southampton, Sheffield United, Everton and Stoke City and more had his otherworldly record in scoring goals through penalties.

A simple glance at his journey in the English Premier League outlines how lethal he was from the spot. Sixteen goals he scored in 17 attempts. Staggering! The only time he failed to live up to the occasion was during a league game in 2006. But, James Beattie's failure didn't cost him much, thanks to a victory of his club in that fixture.

8. Callum Wilson (Striker | England)

The West Ham United striker Callum Wilson's inclusion in the list of the greatest Premier League penalty takers is no fluke. The former Newcastle United star has an impressive scoring record from the spot. His journey in this regard was flawless until his effort couldn't find the target, thanks to Cardiff City's goalkeeper.

And that has put a dent in his penalty-taking achievements. The Englishman, Wilson, has been one of the most reliable forwards in the penalty box, since his AFC Bournemouth days. It's his composure and calm mind that have shaped his journey so far, having represented a handful of EPL clubs in his career.

7. Erling Haaland (Forward | Norway)

Erling Haaland, a name that has somehow been synonymous with goals, is another forward who has made scoring penalties like walking in the park on a Sunday morning. It's just he can't stop scoring, especially when it comes to spot kicks. The Manchester City star Haaland saw his effort rebuffed for the first time in his English top-flight career when he was up against Sheffield United.

20 goals, 23 spot kick takes, just 3 misses - these stats summarise the Norwegian's celebrated presence in front of goals. It doesn't matter whether the match is a worthless fixture or a title decider. The Nowray international Haaland will always go for goals, and he is good at it. No doubt, he is regarded as one of the best strikers in the Premier League at the moment.

6. Danny Murphy (Midfielder | England)

Many might argue why Danny Murphy is not in our five choices on our quest to find the greatest penalty takers in Premier League. Well, you will have to ask that question to Joe Hart, who became a flying man to deny Murphy a 100% perfect record. The former Liverpool and Fulham playmaker earned a lot of well-placed respect for his clinical finish from the spot in the 2000s.
In his whole English top division journey, Murphy only missed one penalty during a match between Fulham and Manchester City in 2008. But, the England international had the last laugh as the Cottagers emerged victorious after the final whistle.

5. Harry Kane (Forward | England)

It's impossible to keep an incredible penalty taker like Harry Kane out of the discussion of the best penalty takers when his records are there to speak for him. With 33 goals to his name, the current Bayern Munich superstar was at his very best from the spot during his stint with Tottenham Hotspur. Kane is renowned as one of the best strikers in the world.
There's a belief that when he steps up, the Englishman finds the net. Out of 37 penalty shots, he scored on 33 occasions. Not bad! But, apart from this staggering number, Harry Kane has been slightly poor in his conversion rate, which is around 88%. But there is no shred of doubt about his inclusion in the list of the greatest penalty takers in Premier League.

4. Cole Palmer (Attacking Midfielder | England)

Cole Palmer shoots, and Cole Palmer scores. This was the story for one of the greatest Premier League penalty takers in him, until a determined Mads Hermansen arrived with a different idea. The Chelsea star Cole Palmer was one of the rarest players to have a perfect record, having scored 18 goals from the circled white line on 19 occasions.

Palmer has become one of the best Chelsea footballers, but, just like every other story, his journey of perfection also came to an end against Leicester City this year. But the English attacker is that kind of individual, who stands against big teams and big crowds and silences them with just a kick, a penalty.

3. Matt Le Tissier (Forward | England)

The Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier is an iconic figure in English football, and his claim to be one of the best penalty takers in Premier League history has its own merit. During his time on the pitch, he took 25 penalty shots, converting 24 of them in the Premier League.
Often called “Le God”, Tissier built his god-like reputation amongst the Saints for his shooting abilities inside the box while playing for Southampton. His only miss from the spot came against Nottingham Forest in the year 1993. He made a staggering 270 appearances in the EPL and scored 101 goals in total.

2. Yaya Toure (Midfielder | Ivory Coast)

Yaya Toure is one of the best African players to play in the Premier League and is the only player with a 100% record in scoring penalties. The Ivorian achieved this glittering accolade during his time at Manchester City. He scored 11 penalty goals for the Citizens, never missing a single one in his entire English top-flight career.

One or two steps, rarely a dummy and mostly grounded shots - this was how Toure used to put goalkeepers to shame during penalties. As a midfielder, he was very composed and skilful, traits that aided him in his penalty scoring ability. Had he played a few more years at Etihad Stadium, he would have added a few to his tally. What a player he was!

1. Alan Shearer (Forward | England)

The man who tops the list of the greatest penalty takers in Premier League is Alan Shearer. One of the biggest Newcastle United legends, Shearer's number in scoring goals from penalties is mind-boggling. With 56 goals in the Premier League, nobody comes close to him in spot-kick supremacy. This record was like a piece of cake for the top scorer in English top-flight history.
But, hard facts also tell a different story. The EPL all-time top goal scorer is the only player on this list to have missed 10 or more penalties. So, his conversion rate was poor, and even though he missed a lot of penalties, reflecting an unlikely character in him. However, one cannot deny that his scoring abilities and ice-cold demeanour in big games have made him the best player.