Spot-kick kings
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The ability to convert penalties successfully seems incredibly straightforward but keeping composure under pressure is a true skill. It’s estimated that around 78% of penalties are scored across Europe and several players have earned reputations for being exceptional from the spot.
Southampton icon Matt Le Tissier famously scored 47 of 48 penalties during his career, while Barcelona great Ronald Koeman only missed six times from 103 attempts for club and country. But during the 2024/25, one of the most talked about strikers boasted a 100% record – Viktor Gyökeres. The Swedish international converted 19 penalties for Sporting CP, but hows does compare to other penalty takers across recent history? Let’s find out.
The most penalties scored in one season since 2000
Using historical Transfermakt data, we’ve analysed every penalty taker across the top ten European leagues since 2000 to discover who has scored the most spot-kicks in a single season. And Gyokeres’ 19 successful penalties for Sporting last season is a joint-record. Interestingly, Jardel scored 19 penalties during the 2001/02 season for Sporting but Gyokeres’ record is superior as the Brazilian missed three spot-kicks. As the graphic below illustrates, Ciro Immobile ranks third after netting 15 from 17 penalties during the 2019/20 season for Lazio with Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo completing the top five.
Fernandes boasted a 100% success rate during the 2019/20 campaign when he joined Manchester United in January, meaning three Sporting players feature in the top ten. Meanwhile, Ronaldo features twice in the top ten list from the 2011/12 season with Real Madrid and the 2019/20 campaign with Juventus. Lionel Messi’s 14 penalties from 17 attempts with Barcelona in 2011/12 matches with Enner Valencia for Fenerbahce in 2022/23.
