Most penalty goals since 2000: Cristiano Ronaldo first - Rooney least effective

Scoring from the spot is a sign of leadership. When Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic are on the pitch, then it is clear, who will take the penalty—and a conversion rate of 86% and 89% respectively shows that they are right. As a result, since 2000, both star strikers are among the top scorers from the penalty from the spot. Lionel Messi is also among the top scorers, but his conversion rate of 77% is the lowest in the top 10. 

Hits and misses Lewandowski's statistic from the spot Overview More effective is Robert Lewandowski, who took over the penalty duty in 2016 from Thomas Müller. The striker converted 91% of his penalties for 39 goals. Lewandowski ranks 12th in the ranking of the most goals scored from the spot—in comparison, Müller ranks 47th with 25 scored penalty kicks (77% converted). 

Ronaldo with the most penalty goals - Pauleta the most effective

Lewandowski aside, the 90% mark of the most effective goalscorers from the point was cracked by nine more players in the top 50—one of them even scored every single penalty: Pauleta. The former Portuguese national team player converted 27 out of 27 penalties for Bordeaux and PSG and ranked 31st in the ranking of the most penalty goals scored. He also converted both penalties he was awarded when he played in LaLiga. 

From 50th place, which is occupied by Robin van Persie, to first place, which is occupied by a large margin by Cristiano Ronaldo, nobody was as cool hearted as Pauleta from the spot. Wayne Rooney, in the meantime, has the lowest percentage from the spot (72%)—the former Manchester United star is one of only ten players in the top 50 to regularly step up for penalties despite having a conversion rate of less than 80%. 

Ronaldo's record All penalties Overview

In comparison, in the Bundesliga 81.9% of all penalties were converted in 2019/29, in the Serie A, it was 82%, in the Premier League 78.3% and in LaLiga 83.8%.