One of the edgiest moments in a football match for a footballer is when he steps up for a spot-kick. It isn’t just a battle of perfection, but an equally important stoush of wits and nerves. The Best Penalty Takers possess these qualities.
There are moments when the situation is overwhelmingly in a player’s favor and he doesn’t feel the heat of a compulsory penalty conversion. However, in crunch situations, where an entire game may be tipped on the premise of that solitary penalty, that is a whole new ball game altogether, challenging your character and mental brawn. We will look at five players who have been the best in penalty conversions and still continue to rule the roost, despite bidding adieu to the sport on a few occasions.
Also Read: Five Players who declined in their prime
One of the most edgy moments in a football match for a footballer is when he steps up for a spot kick. It isn’t just a battle of perfection, but an equally important stoush of wits and nerves.
There are moments when the situation is overwhelmingly in a player’s favor and he doesn’t feel the heat of a compulsory penalty conversion. However, in crunch situations, where an entire game may be tipped on the premise of that solitary penalty, that is a whole new ball game altogether, challenging your character and mental brawn. We will look at five players who have been the best in penalty conversions and still continue to rule the roost, despite bidding adieu to the sport in a few occasions.
1. Best Penalty Takers: Matt Le Tissier
Though failing to make his presence felt at the international level, Le Tissier was one of Southampton’s best penalty takers. The primary reason to back him in this wondrous claim is his incredulous penalty conversion rate.
With a staggering percentage of 98 in penalty conversion, Tissier has only missed one spot-kick out of the 49 that he has taken in his entire Saints career.
One uniquely flippant personality that is being characterized by an extra-terrestrial calmness, Le Tissier was also named as Le God by the Soton fans. These numbers are a burning testimony to this Godly status.
2. Frank Lampard
Unless you are the scintillating midfielder of England who squeezed his heart and soul to present the world with one the most beautiful brands of football, a conversion rate of 93 percent from the spot isn’t possible.
The former Chelsea player went on to blast home 48 penalties from the 52 that he took in his entire career. He was also touted as one of the most phenomenal set-piece takers bragging a world-class precision.
3. Alan Shearer
One of Newcastle’s top men is also the leading goal-scorer in Premier League history.
Known for his powerful strikes from the spot, Shearer was involved in ratching up 264 goals out of the 434 appearances that he has been a part of. His penalty conversion percentage is a sky-soaring 83.6 as he went on to convert 56 penalties from the 67 that he took.
4. Graham Alexander
His set-piece numbers attest to his brilliance from the spot. Though any concrete records couldn’t be amassed due to the ruffled pages of history, rumors state that Alexander flipped in 72 goals from 77 spot kicks which could have easily landed him in the ace only if we were sure of the numbers
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Probably the best of the current era Cristiano Ronaldo’s set-piece records are absolutely enviable. The magician has notched up a staggering 83.78 percent conversion rate that cites astonishing figures of 93 from 111 penalties that he has taken until the date in all the competitions that he has been a part of.
Other notable names include Eric Cantona, Yaya Toure, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Gary McAllister, Steven Gerrard, and Alessandro Del Piero who were brilliant strikers of the ball from 12 yards away but their numbers aren’t as staggering as the five aforementioned in the list.
