LISBON, Portugal (BN24) — Cristiano Ronaldo, the prolific goal-scorer who has shattered countless records across his storied career, now holds a far less celebrated distinction: the most missed penalties in football history.
Ronaldo missed from the spot again during Portugal’s friendly match against Ireland on Saturday, as Brentford and Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher denied the Al Nassr forward with a decisive save. The failed attempt brought Ronaldo’s tally of missed penalties to 34, surpassing all other players in the modern game, according to a report by Planet Football released Monday.
Despite the headline-grabbing figure, the context reveals a more nuanced story. Ronaldo has taken more penalties than any player on record, 211 in total, and converted 177 of them, giving him a success rate of 83.8%. That conversion percentage remains comfortably above the average for elite-level footballers.
Still, the raw number of missed spot-kicks has placed him at the top of an unenviable list, edging out longtime rival Lionel Messi, who has missed 32 penalties in his career. Messi, with a lower overall success rate of 77.9%, had previously held the record for most penalty misses before being overtaken.
Other notable names on the list include Brazilian star Neymar with 22 misses, Roma legend Francesco Totti with 20, and Italian striker Ciro Immobile with 19. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ronaldinho round out the top seven with 17 and 16 missed penalties, respectively.
Ronaldo’s recent form from the spot has contributed to the milestone. He has failed to convert four of his last 16 penalties over the past year, a drop-off in efficiency that may raise questions ahead of Portugal’s upcoming competitive fixtures. However, given his unmatched number of goals from 12 yards, Ronaldo remains among the most reliable penalty takers the game has seen.
At 38 years old, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continues to defy expectations with his longevity and goal-scoring prowess. Still, this latest record adds a complex footnote to his legacy, one that reflects both his longevity and the sheer volume of opportunities he’s had from the spot.
As Portugal prepares for its next international challenges, Ronaldo’s place in football history is secure now for both the goals he has scored and the rare few he hasn’t.
