Top 5 Penalty Takers in European Leagues in the 2020s: Mastering the Art of the Spot Kick

Converting penalties into goals is among the most accurate football predictions by Tips.GG, but at the same time, it is a moment full of pressure that not every player wants to get involved in. Penalties can be the make-or-break moments not just for football team rankings but can label an entire career.

Probably the most significant case took place in the shootout of the 1994 FIFA World Cup final when Roberto Baggio missed the last penalty for Italy, handing the trophy to Brazil.

"I will never forget it. That was a childhood dream come true, and it ended in the most absurd fashion and I never got over it. I still dream about it. If I could erase a moment from my career, it would be that one. Only those who have the courage to take a penalty miss them. I failed that time. Period. And it affected me for years,” said Baggio.

Despite the consequences that a missed penalty can bring, there are footballers who are almost perfect from the spot, and in this article, we will look at those.

Cole Palmer – Perfect from the penalty spot

Chelsea’s midfielder has a perfect record from the penalty spot, making all 15 of his attempts. The 22-year-old joined Chelsea in 2023 and took over the responsibility despite his age. From playing only 19 games in three seasons with City, Cole Palmer became a regular in the starting lineup of the team from Stamford Bridge.

With his confidence and charisma, Palmer is definitely the right choice for penalty strikes, as he prefers the ball placement rather than just the strength of the shot. He joined the Blues on a £40 million deal and right away made his presence felt. In his second game for Chelsea, Palmer scored from the penalty spot against Burnley and has been the primary option ever since.

Shortly after, he had a chance to score against his former team and did so. It was stoppage time when Palmer scored from the penalty spot for a 4-4 tie against City.

Ivan Toney – From journeyman to ice-cold executor

Ivan Toney’s journey to the Premier League has been one of a kind. After starting his career in his hometown club Northampton, he signed with Newcastle but spent the three contract years on loans at four different clubs. Finally, he made his Premier League debut with Brentford in 2021. He was already a great executor from the penalty spot and continued his run in the top tier, making 30 of 32 shots from the spot, or a 93.8% conversion rate. He is known for calmness and intense goalkeeper stare-downs. After four seasons with the Bees, and a solid performance at the EURO 2024, Toney signed with Al-Ahli.

Bruno Fernandes - reliable under pressure

Manchester United is going through a difficult period in recent years, but Bruno Fernandes’ conversion from the penalty spot has been consistent. The Portuguese has been one of the best midfielders in the world and a real nightmare for goalkeepers. His trademark stutter-step is a move that creates insecurity among the goalkeepers who have yet to find a solution for Fernandes. He has made 55 of 61 shots from the spot (90%), including the first in European Cups for United against Club Brugge in 2020 and a pair of shots in the shootout for Portugal in the EURO 2024.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu - the silent killer

There are not many players who have made a transfer from one to the other club from the fashion capital—Milano. The Turkish midfielder joined Inter in 2021 and has been the main free kick and penalty taker. His versatility and ability to deliver in key moments make him a key asset for Inter, and Çalhanoğlu has often been underrated. He has converted 43 of 48 penalties, including the game-winner against Arsenal in this season’s Champions League.

Harry Kane – A Global Standard

There is no player in Europe who takes penalties more frequently than Harry Kane. The England captain has an EA FC 25 penalty rating and an unblemished record since the 2022 World Cup. He has grown an ice-cold mentality, and there is no question who is taking a penalty for both England and Bayern Munich. Kane won the Golden Boot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with six goals, one of which was from the penalty spot. He also scored in the penalty shootout in the round of 16 against Colombia, the first time that England had managed to win a penalty shootout at the World Cup.

The penalty tactics are constantly evolving from both the striker's and the goalkeeper's perspectives. With the VAR technology, the penalties occur more frequently, and these five players’ value has increased. With such talent on display, who will step up to redefine penalty mastery in the years to come?