Top 10 players to have scored the most penalties in the 21st century

Top players have been very efficient with their penalties in the 21st century
Top players have been very efficient with their penalties in the 21st century

#3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Manchester United v Sunderland - Premier League
Manchester United v Sunderland - Premier League

Players come and go but not many can match the audacity and success that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had in his career. The Swedish striker has been outstanding throughout his professional football career.

He has played for a number of top European clubs like of Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United. It is not easy to be able to play for all these wonderful clubs. Zlatan's excellent technique and amazing goal-scoring abilities are responsible for him being successful almost everywhere where he played.

For the nine clubs he has played for so far, the Swedish legend has scored 467 goals in total and registered 167 assists in 761 appearances. It is a phenomenal achievement given the competition everywhere. To date, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 78 goals through penalties and can add more before he hangs up his boots.


#2 Lionel Messi

FC Barcelona v Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander
FC Barcelona v Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander

No amount of words can do justice to the greatness of Lionel Messi. The Barcelona legend surprised many when it was confirmed that he would be joining Paris Saint-Germain in last summer's transfer window.

Having played 17 seasons with the Catalan club, leaving them would surely not have been easy for him. In his superb career with the Spanish giants, Messi scored 672 goals in 778 appearances across all competitions.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner may be struggling a bit in Ligue 1 right now but remains one of the goats in football. To date, Lionel Messi has scored 78 goals through penalties, all of which have come in the 21st century.


#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

It is not easy to skip Cristiano Ronaldo when a discussion of goals is taking place. The Portuguese superstar has been a goal-scoring machine throughout his football career.

Irrespective of the club, league or the opposition, Ronaldo has guaranteed goals. The Portuguese forward has been immense with his brutal finishing and amazing instincts in scoring goals. In his club career, he has scored 688 goals in 921 appearances across all competitions.

With 128 penalty goals to his name in the 21st century, no player has come close to beating Ronaldo in this matter. It only speaks volumes of how well the Manchester United forward has handled himself in such situations.

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Edited by Aditya Singh
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