Top 10 Best Penalty Taker in the World - 2025 (Ranked)

Which names come to your mind when we speak about the best penalty taker in the world? What is the toughest thing for a footballer to do? Is it scoring an Olympic goal, or curling the ball into the net from a free-kick from 40 yards out? Rather, it is the penalty or spot kick, which, although it looks easy, during clutch or tense situations, can compel even the best in the world to see their shot saved. Many footballers who have retired or are still playing know how difficult it is to maintain calm and score from the spot. Even greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine icon Lionel Messi have seen their penalty kicks being saved or missing the target, and that has cost their respective teams, too. In this article, however, we will look at the best penalty taker in the world.

Ever List of Best Penalty Taker in the World Right Now

We have shortlisted the 10 best penalty taker in the world, who are currently the best in the world when it comes to converting from the spot. Most of these players are currently playing in the world’s best leagues and have been in the limelight for quite some time.

Note: All penalties mentioned in this article are updated as of the present date.

How We Ranked the Top 10 Best Penalty Takers in the World in 2025?

We have set up a few parameters to decide who is the best penalty taker in the world right now. There are 10 players in the aforementioned list, and all these players fulfil the parameters mentioned below.

• Penalties scored: The first criterion is to check how many spot kicks they have converted to date. Hence, it's the first and foremost factor.
• Conversion rate: The second most important factor is their conversion rate. The player with the lowest conversion rate has been ranked 10th, and the one with the best conversion rate sits atop.
• Penalties missed: Another crucial element is how many penalties the respective player has missed. The one with the most penalties missed has been ranked 10th, and the one with the best conversion is ranked highly.
• Success in high-stakes matches: Every game is important for a footballer, and for the best penalty taker in the world right now to be decided, they must net the ball from the spot in the important situations, which can help their team salvage a win or even a trophy.

Who is the Pest Penalty Taker in the World in 2025?

All 10 players in this list are the best in the world; however, only one such player exists who has never missed a penalty. Surprisingly, the greats of the game, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have not been included in the article. This might surprise the readers, but those who are present are undoubtedly better than them in converting from the spot and can be labelled as the best penalty taker for their team, country or even in the world.

10. Sergio Ramos (CF Monterrey & Spain)

Sergio Ramos, the former Spanish national team and Real Madrid defender, is the only defender in this list who has been clinical from the spot. The 39-year-old plays for Mexican giants CF Monterrey in the Mexican top tier and has featured for them in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. He has scored 34 penalties, missed only five, and has an 87.17% conversion rate. The World Cup winner with Spain is a veteran, having played over 841 professional club appearances while netting 123 goals and 42 assists. Ramos is one of the most decorated defenders in world football. He has lifted both the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro Cup with the Spanish national team, and at the club level, Sergio Ramos has won every possible trophy with Real Madrid.

9. Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway)

The Norwegian goal-machine Erling Haaland has been a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and leads the line for his country. Ever since his Borussia Dortmund days, he has been a clinical goal-getter, rising to the occasion in tough situations to bail his team out. The 25-year-old has scored 50 goals from the spot and missed just eight, and has a conversion rate of 86.20%. Placed at the 9th position on the list of the top 10 best penalty takers in the world. Haaland is a prolific scorer in the English Premier League, helping Manchester City win multiple English League titles and their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. The striker has converted 50 penalties from the spot, displaying his excellence as a penalty taker.

8. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan & Turkiye)

The Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu is an important member of the Inter Milan setup and helps in dictating play from the centre of the park. He is a proven playmaker who helps his team score goals. However, when it comes to scoring from the spot, he does not shy away. The 31-year-old has converted 46 penalties and missed just six, and has a conversion rate of 89.09%, making him one of the best penalty takers in the world. Calhanoglu is one of the best penalty taker in the world right now, he has proven his credentials in the Serie A with Nerazzurri. The defensive midfielder has lifted multiple silverware at the club level.

7. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)

The star English centre forward Harry Kane recently won the Bundesliga at Bayern Munich as his first major title. He has racked up a staggering 89 penalties and continues to be amongst the best penalty taker in the world 2025. Kane is a penalty specialist. Not only does he like scoring from open play, but he also relishes when it comes to converting from the spot. The 31-year-old, who is currently one of the best strikers in the world, has recorded 100 penalties, scoring 89 and missing just 11, and has a conversion rate of 89%. The former Tottenham Hotspur marksman is the highest goal scorer in Premier League history.

6. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona & Poland)

He has been among the best penalty taker in the world right now, currently playing his trade for Spanish giants FC Barcelona. The Polish ace Robert Lewandowski is one of the most clinical strikers in world football right now. Be it Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona, whenever the team needs a goal, he always steps up with authority. He does not back out when it comes to converting from the spot, as he has scored 88 penalties and missed just 10, recording a conversion rate of 89.7%. Robert Lewandowski is undoubtedly one of the most decorated number nines of this generation, winning countless titles throughout his glittering career.

5. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal)

The highly talented Portuguese midfielder Vitniha recently helped Paris Saint-Germain claim a treble in the 2024-25 season. He was a key player in their 5-0 drubbing of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League. The former Wolves man is currently the best penalty taker in the world. He has scored all of the 12 penalties and missed only once; he has a conversion rate of 92.30%, declaring him one of the best among the rest in this list. Vitniha has gained significant success in recent history at both club and international levels.

4. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United & Portugal)

When it comes to staying calm and looking into the goalkeeper’s eyes before taking a penalty kick. No one can do it better than Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes. From creating his style of run-up to a penalty kick to becoming one of the best penalty taker in the world, he is simply a legend when it comes to spot kicks, and of course, one of the most reliable penalty takers too. He has scored 61 penalties and missed just six, and has a conversion rate of 91.04%. The Portuguese international has netted a century of club goals for Manchester United and boasts a tremendous accuracy in converting penalties.

3. Joao Pedro (Brighton & Brazil)

Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has been one of the most clinical finishers in the Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion in recent times. At just 24, he has recorded a penalty conversion rate of 94.73%. He has scored 18 penalties so far and has missed only once. He has three international caps for Brazil and could be a lethal option for them heading into the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026 if Carlo Ancelotti recognises his potential. On the back of an impressive campaign with Brighton, the Brazilian forward joined London giants Chelsea on a long-term deal until 2033.

2. Cole Palmer (Chelsea & England)

Chelsea’s most impactful player from the recently concluded Premier League 2024-25 edition. The English sensation Cole Palmer is one of the best penalty takers in the world and the ‘second best’ among active English footballers. He has missed just one penalty so far, scoring the rest of the 18, and has amassed a conversion rate of 94.73%. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder won the PFA Young Player of the Year for his breakout campaign in the 2024-25 season, for being the best player in the English top flight. Palmer has been a vital cog in Enzo Maresca's Chelsea set-up, leading their attack.

1. Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli & England)

If Cole Palmer is the second best, then definitely, it is his fellow England star Ivan Toney, who sits atop among the English penalty takers. Currently plying his trade for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, Toney has seven international caps for the Three Lions. He is a dominant force when it comes to scoring from the spot, as he has netted 42 penalties and missed just two, recording a conversion rate of 95.45%. Once regarded as the most sought-after striker, the former Brentford striker Ivan moved to Saudi Arabia, marking the end of a stellar Premier League career.