Top-10 Best Penalty Takers
Who holds their nerve from 12-yards out?
Taking a penalty. It looks so easy. Professionals should never miss a free shot from 12-yards. Well they aren’t as easy as they look and professionals certainly miss them.
The coolness needed to step up and take a penalty is beyond belief. The pressure is all on the taker and all eyes are watching that one person.
SillySeason wanted to create a list of the best penalty takers in football, and here are the 10 players we picked to make our list.
Some you will agree with, and some I’m sure you will disagree with, but lets take a look at who makes our list!
10. Andrea Pirlo
Starting the list of Top 10 Penalty Takers In The World Of All Time is footballing legend Andrea Pirlo.
Pirlo is just loved all across the globe. His look, his style and the way he controls a football field is just incredible for his age. Now set to leave Juventus in order to take on the MLS (so it seems), Pirlo will be sorely missed in European football, but he will always be remembered for his coolness on the field.
Who remembers his little panenka in the Euros against England during a penalty shoot-out? The nerve!
9. Ronaldinho
In 9th of the Top 10 Penalty Takers In The World Of All Time is another footballing legend, Ronaldinho.
This man is just beautiful to watch. His trickery, his flair and just his all-round game is outstanding. You will struggle to see a more skillful player than Ronaldinho in his peak at FC Barcelona.
Stunning free-kick taker, but also so calm when it came to 12-yards out.
8. Michael Ballack
Of course a German has to make out all-time penalty takers list. They never miss them!
The Germans have built up a reputation of being good from the spot, as an English fan, I know that too well, and Michael Ballack is the German that makes our list.
His power and also his accuracy made his penalty pretty much unstoppable.
7. Alessandro Del Piero
Coming at number 7 is yet another legend in the terms of football and this time a Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero.
The former-Juve striker is now applying his trade in America, but he will always be remembered for his time in Europe and his style of football.
Certainly will go down as an all-time great as well as a penalty great.
6. Steven Gerrard
In number 6 is Liverpool captain and legend Steven Gerrard, nick named ”Captain Fantastico”.
Mr Reliable. He rarely missed when taking a penalty and will forever be an Anfield legend even though he is finally leaving the club in order to head over to America.
It was an emotional last few months for Stevie G and Liverpool as a whole as he said goodbye to his boyhood club, but he will always be remembered for his stunning goals and loyal service.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Penalties probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Cristiano Ronaldo, but he can certainly take them very well.
More of a free-kick specialist and just an overall specialist in everything he does, Ronaldo is arguably one of the greatest players to ever play the beautiful game.
His confidence shows when he’s on the field, especially when he’s 12-yards-out.
4. Zinedine Zidane
Similar to Ronaldinho. When he was at his peak, he was just unplayable. His skill, his control, his movement, Zidane had everything and what a joy to watch he was.
Always confident and never backed down from a penalty. More often than not was successful as well.
Sadly his career was tarnished near the end as he was sent off in his final France game for headbutting Italian Marco Materazzi.
3. Frank Lampard
Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer. To achieve that as a midfielder is some feat!
Known for his goals from just inside the box after a pull-back from a winger, Lampard is one of the most clinical midfielders to ever grace the game and probably the greatest midfielder in Premier League history.
Bizarrely he ended his England career with Manchester City, but is now set to join New York City in the MLS where I’m sure he will continue his goalscoring record.
2. Alan Shearer
He’s the Premier League all-time top goalscorer, he’s Alan Shearer.
Won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and scored half of his goals from the spot. He just couldn’t miss them. If his side had a penalty, 99% of the time, it’s going in the back of the net.
Failed to win anything at Newcastle, but certainly won the fans’ heart and stamped his legacy on the Premier League.
1. Matt Le Tissier
First spot goes to Matt Le Tissier.
Many people don’t acknowledge just how good this guy was. In the Premier League, you hear about Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Cristiano Ronaldo and so on, but this guy was beautiful to watch.
His footwork was second-to-none and his ability to score was just incredible.
Easily could have played for a bigger club in England, but remained loyal to The Saints which is admirable.
Out of 49 penalties he took throughout his career, he missed just one.