5 players who have missed the most penalties in Europe's top five leagues this season

#3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 2 penalty misses

FC Barcelona v Real Betis - La Liga Santander

There are few players in the world who can deliver better from deadball situations than Lionel Messi. The Argentinian international enjoyed yet another prolific goalscoring season. He has won the La Liga Golden Boot after scoring 30 goals this term.

Even though Messi scored four out of the five penalties he took in the Champions League, he could only convert three out of the five spot-kicks in La Liga. Both of his penalty misses came against Valencia. While the first match where he missed from the spot ended in a 2-2 draw, Barcelona won the second 3-2.

Despite not having a great conversion rate this term, Lionel Messi continues to be Barcelona's go-to man for penalty kicks.

#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan) - 3 penalty misses

Bologna FC v AC Milan - Serie A

The usually reliable Zlatan Ibrahimovic seems to have lost his mojo when it comes to penalties. The Swede converted thrice from the spot for AC Milan this season but also missed just as many times.

His first miss of the season fortunately came in the Milan derby which the Rossoneri won 2-1. The 39-year-old's second penalty miss came in a 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona and his third transpired in a 2-1 win over Bologna.

Ibrahimovic was furious with himself after his penalty miss in the game against Verona. It came just a little more than a week after he had missed another in a Europa League match against Sparta Prague.

Speaking to the press after the Hellas Verona game, Zlatan said:

"Of course I am angry. A draw today isn't good enough, we had a lot of chances, and I missed a penalty. Perhaps I let Kessié shoot the next one."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic just missed a penalty 😱Milan miss out on the chance to go 2-0 up against Sparta Prague after Brahim Diaz's opener.#UEL pic.twitter.com/E8zXJC81F5

— Goal (@goal) October 29, 2020

#1 Ciro Immobile (Lazio) - 4 penalty misses

SS Lazio v Torino FC - Serie A

The winner of the European Golden Shoe in the 2019-20 season, Ciro Immobile, wasn't as prolific this term. The Italian striker still enjoyed a pretty decent campaign, scoring 20 goals and racking up six assists in 35 appearances in Serie A.

However, Ciro Immobile, who is usually very reliable from the spot, has had a poor penalty record this time around. Out of the eight penalties he took, he converted just four. He missed penalties against AC Milan, Bologna, Benevento and Torino FC.

Immobile's miss against AC Milan came in a 3-2 defeat. Immobile's miss against Bologna cost Lazio as they lost 2-0. Despite missing a penalty against Benevento, Immobile bagged a brace and helped Lazio to a 5-3 win. His final miss came in a goalless draw against Torino.

4 - Ciro #Immobile has missed the most penalties taken (4/8) this season in the top-5 European Leagues. Penalty.#LazioTorino #SerieA pic.twitter.com/fS5oOnBGPN

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 18, 2021

(Note: Jorginho, Roger Marti, Edu Exposito, Nabil Fekir, Joselu, Carlos Soler, Marco Reus, Alfred Finnbogason, Florian Thauvin, Teji Savanier, Wissam Ben Yedder and Franck Kessie have all missed two penalties each this season as well).