Who are the best penalty takers?

Recently I was talking with some friends about Balotelli's ability at the penalty spot. None of us could think of a single time where we had seen him miss and we got into a discussion of who the best penalty takers are and have been. I mentioned Mendieta who had a somewhat similar style of penalty taking and I can't remember him missing too many either. Luis Figo was known in his day but I remember a miss against Juve in the semifinal in 2003 and one against old man Burgos(Atletico Madrid).



Poor Burgos

I'm assuming there must be a German out there with a pretty good record as well.

Rickie Lambert has a 100% success rate I believe.

Yeah I don't ever remember Mendieta missing. I was just reading in the leadup to the Madrid derby that Falcao hasn't missed this season he is 8/8. Xabi Prieto also rarely misses in fact I can't think of one time where he missed.

who is best, Xavi or Zidane?

I'm going to chuck the names Pirlo and Ballack in.

Alan Shearer scored over 100 penalties, many of them headers.

Robben Ok not Robben.

There isn't anybody better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic though.

Shola, not even joking.

Yakubu had similar technique to Mendieta. He did miss some though.

Ronaldinho missed a few but he is up their

Mario hush fakes slightly and waits until the keeper moves then its too late, not really impressed by those kind of pk takers but its damn effective.

Rvp takes a good OK too

ADP
JDT
Niang (old one that plays for Besiktas not Milan kid)
Balotelli
Shola
Le Tiss
Shearer
Drogba
Ballack


* Graham Alexander when he played for Burnley/Preston was amazing but some on here won't know him.

debaser wrote:Rickie Lambert has a 100% success rate I believe.

wow didn't know about that.

Le Tissier also has a pretty impressive record with a single miss, hasn't him?


Roberto Baggio converted 111 out of 126, not the very best percentage around but still impressive given the huge amount of attempts.
(sadly one of the miss decided a wc)

Cruyff had a excellent conversion rate too IIRC.

Shit, forgot Simao.

Guidetti!!!

Balotelli, Berbatov, Falcao, Agüero, Messi, Soldado, Muller, Cristiano. I would count on those guys for penalties in the World Cup KO stages.

I'd be a bit concerned about Berbatov out of those..I know he's cool as fuck generally..but I've always got that doubt he'll try something too fancy like he's done before and fuck it up.

christmasborocooper wrote:I'd be a bit concerned about Berbatov out of those..I know he's cool as fuck generally..but I've always got that doubt he'll try something too fancy like he's done before and fuck it up.

Getafe's Diego Castro is almost a sure shot at penalties like Leighton Baines. I haven't seen him miss one in years. Then again I don't watch Getafe much.

To up the ante we also have to take into consideration that some penalty takers never reach a situation where there is a lot of pressure on them and the whole world is watching. I suppose we could talk about big game penalty takers.

Baggio had a great technique and temperament for taking penalties. Del Piero was also very good. I remember Andreas Brehme was pretty good at them as well.

First name that comes to mind is the legend that is Matthew Le Tissier (1 miss in 49 taken penalties) !

Best Dutch penalty taker ? Ronald Koeman I'd think...no idea what his stats (or Johan Neeskens' stats) are.

Balotelli

Super Mourinho wrote:To up the ante we also have to take into consideration that some penalty takers never reach a situation where there is a lot of pressure on them and the whole world is watching. I suppose we could talk about big game penalty takers.

I don't remember Zidane ever missing one. But of the big ones that he took - semi final in Euro 2000 was one of the best penalties ever. He made one in the semi and final of the 2006 WC too.

Does anybody else think Ballotelli is cheating the way he takes his? Sometimes he completely stops before striking the ball which is against the rules....

Big Willy wrote:Does anybody else think Ballotelli is cheating the way he takes his? Sometimes he completely stops before striking the ball which is against the rules....

yep it's the C.Ronaldo style. Refs should start forcing retakes when they take the piss.

XI Juanitos wrote:

Super Mourinho wrote:To up the ante we also have to take into consideration that some penalty takers never reach a situation where there is a lot of pressure on them and the whole world is watching. I suppose we could talk about big game penalty takers.

I don't remember Zidane ever missing one. But of the big ones that he took - semi final in Euro 2000 was one of the best penalties ever. He made one in the semi and final of the 2006 WC too.

the one in WC 2006 final was pretty lucky. no way he meant to play it off the bar, and it only just crossed the line.

debaser wrote:

XI Juanitos wrote:

Super Mourinho wrote:To up the ante we also have to take into consideration that some penalty takers never reach a situation where there is a lot of pressure on them and the whole world is watching. I suppose we could talk about big game penalty takers.

I don't remember Zidane ever missing one. But of the big ones that he took - semi final in Euro 2000 was one of the best penalties ever. He made one in the semi and final of the 2006 WC too.

the one in WC 2006 final was pretty lucky. no way he meant to play it off the bar, and it only just crossed the line.

Oh he totally meant it!

Coops - you forgot Mendieta !?

Jovetic is one of the best I have ever seen, can't remember him ever missing a penalty.

Lampsy:

Lampard has dragged just 1 of his 54 penalties wide – the Fa Cup final vs Portsmouth (David James), but he's had 5 saved (so I don't know if others count that as a miss), but 48 goals out of 54 penalties isn't bad.

Type Down Middle Keeper’s Left Keeper’s Right GT
Goal 8 14 26 48
Saved 0 2 3 5
Wide 0 0 1 1
GT 8 15 31 54

http://www.thechels.co.uk/3469-frank-lampard-penalty-record/

110% wrote: but he's had 5 saved (so I don't know if others count that as a miss)

Erm, duh that's a miss...at least over here it doesn't count as half a goal or so