Lionel Messi failed to convert the penalty during the tie-break of the 2016 Copa America final.
The penalty kick is considered the easiest way to score for any footballer. However, this is one of the most illusory things in the game From the outside, it seems that a player only has to put the ball on the goal post 7320 meters, but inside, it is one of the things more difficult to do.
Penalties are more than just a skill; they need a strong mind to succeed under pressure. Even the greatest players have failed from the penalty spot.
Shooting from the spot is a difficult art that many players have mastered. But today, we're going to look at the 10 players who have missed the most penalties in the 21st century.
10. Sergio Aguero - 12
Sergio Agüero is one of Manchester City's greatest icons and one of the most prolific strikers of the 21st century. Unfortunately, he had to retire due to cardiovascular problems. However, for 10 years, Agüero wore the City shirt and scored some stunning goals.
He scored the most goals for the club and also achieved many successes in the Premier League. Despite this, he did not have a good record when it came to converting from the penalty spot, as he missed 12 of his 61 attempts.
9. Frank Lampard - 13
Frank Lampard is one of the most successful midfielders of all time. The goal statistics he consistently recorded season after season brought a new dimension to midfielders around the world. As well as being an elite goalscorer, he was also an excellent penalty taker. However, he also missed a few - 13 out of 80 in his career.
8. Ronaldinho - 13
In the world of football, Ronaldinho is a household name. His magical talent and elegance have made him a fan favorite. Whether from a free kick or a long shot, he was a decisive player capable of scoring from anywhere. However, his penalty record was far from flawless. Ronaldinho missed 13 of 68 penalties, earning a spot on this list.
7. Wayne Rooney - 13
Rooney is Manchester United's all-time leading scorer and arguably England's best striker after Alan Shearer. During his illustrious career, the England striker set numerous goalscoring records. Despite this, he tried to score from the point. He seemed particularly cautious when it came to penalties. On 53 occasions, he missed 13 penalties.
6. Edinson Cavani - 14
Edinson Cavani is another prolific striker who has had a huge impact on the clubs he has played for and in Uruguay. He has tried in European leagues such as Serie A, Ligue 1, and Premier League. Although Cavani is a deadly striker, he did not have his best moments during penalties. He missed 14 penalties out of 73.
5. Antonio DiNatale - 15
Antonio Di Natale is a former Italian striker and veteran of Serie A. He has spent his entire club career playing Italian football. He scored 258 goals in 606 games. With his incredible physical presence in the box, Natale was a poacher. However, he struggled with penalties and had a poor record. Of the 58 penalties he took in the 21st century, he missed 15.
4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 16
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a self-proclaimed "lion" of world football. It was a long road for him who defied expectations throughout his career and it wasn't over even at 40 years old. He has played in almost all the major championships in the world and can be considered a partner in the game.
Although the striker had a ruthless reputation, he did not have good penalty numbers. Of the 92 times he was on the penalty spot, Ibrahimovic lost 16 times.
3. Francesco Totti - 17
The name Francesco Totti is the embodiment of loyalty. He was a fearsome striker who single-handedly won many games for AS Roma and Italy. He scored 250 club goals during his 25-year career before hanging up his boots in 2017. However, he missed 17 penalties during his career, earning him a place on this list.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo - 30
Ronaldo is one of the biggest stars in football and everyone knows what he has achieved on the pitch. For his teams, he was always a sure shooter in pressure situations, especially when it came to penalties.
He was consistently the best penalty taker in every team he played for. However, the more likely he is, the more he loses, and Ronaldo was no exception. He missed a total of 30 penalties. Ronaldo missed a penalty in the Copa del Rey final for Al Nassr against Al Taawoun.
1. Lionel Messi 30
Like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is one of the biggest stars in football. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time and has backed up that claim with impeccable performances. The Argentine is a complete player with all the attributes embedded in his game.
However, a key quality of Messi is his ability to break under pressure. He finds himself in bad situations on several occasions for missing important penalties. The Inter Miami forward missed a total of 30 penalties.
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