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Penalties are high-stakes instances in football that need composure, preciseness and nerves of steel. Some players have perfected the art of penalty taking, always converting consistently from the spot. Here we celebrate the top ten penalty takers in football history by showcasing their incredible skills and contributions to the game.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is famous for his unbelievable accuracy and power when hitting penalties. With a career conversion rate of more than 85%, Ronaldo’s ability to keep calm under pressure and his precision technique has made him one of the greatest penalty takers ever known in football. For many matches he effectively scored from a spot for both club and country.
2. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi, another soccer legend, is famous for his amazing skill and coolness when taking penalties. With approximately an 80% conversion rate, Messi’s placement ability and composed demeanor make him a reliable penalty taker. His penalties have often proven decisive at crucial moments in Barcelona and Argentina.
3. Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, a legend among AS Roma forwards was among the best at taking penalties. With above 80% conversion rate, Totti was unrivalled when it came to maintaining calmness while ensuring pinpoint delivery at such situations.His famous “cucchiaio” (spoon) technique which featured a delicate chip shot demonstrated how confident and skillful Totti was on penalties.
4. Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer; the Premier League’s all-time leading goal scorer also turned out to be one of its most proficient penalty takers too….Shearer had a high conversion rate due to his powerful, accurate strikes from the spot…His penalties were usually decisive as they helped Blackburn Rovers as well as Newcastle United earns important points….
5. Zinedine Zidane
Also an excellent penality taker, Zinedine Zidane who is known for his elegance and skill. This was evident from the way he calmly converted penalties during high stake games particularly in 2006 world cup when he scored a memorable penalty for France.
6. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers in modern day football whose penalty taking skills are exceptional…His consistency from spot has been of utmost importance to Bayern Munich and Poland hence his conversion rate of above 85%. His precision while placing the ball as well as his calmness under pressure make him a great penalty taker.
7. Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo, who is also known for his beautiful passing and vision, mastered the art of penalties as well….Pirlo’s famous Panenka against England in Euro 2012 is an example of how confident and skillful he was when it came to penalties. His ability to see where goalkeepers were going would result into accurate placements, which made him a good penalty taker throughout his career.
8. Steven Gerrard
Powerful and accurate penalties characterized Steven Gerrard’s career as a Liverpool FC legend…This conversion rate, coupled with his knack for scoring at important times earned him the title spot…Gerrard often changed the game through his spot-kicks that enabled Liverpool to win crucial matches.
9. Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard; Chelsea’s highest ever scorer was also among the most prolific players in terms of penalties too…For England and Chelsea, Lampard had found himself taking quite a number of them where by he always came out on top due to consistency….Lampard became one of greatest penalty takers ever due to this high conversion rate together with composure under pressure situations.
10. Michel Platini
Famous for his finesse and accuracy in penalty situations, Michel Platini the French football legend will forever be remembered. This he achieved by placing the ball with precision at will and maintaining his cool throughout these critical moments of the game which helped him convert umpteen penalties resulting to a legacy of one of the best players ever.
Apart from their incredible skills and composure from the penalty spot, these players also had a lasting impact on this sport. Their ability to handle pressure and consistently convert penalties has been crucial in many important matches.
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As new talents emerge and make their mark from the penalty spot, the legacy of these great penalty takers will continue to inspire. Staying connected to action through getting a Laser Book247 ID can enhance your experience by bringing you closer to football’s most exciting world of goals being scored from 12 yards out.