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Penalties

120 vs 185. The penalty column tells two different stories.

Ronaldo's career penalty count is the highest in football history. Messi's conversion percentage is fractionally better. The most decisive penalties of either career are concentrated in finals and knockout matches.

Penalties scored

120·185

Ronaldo's total is the all-time men's record

Conversion %

77%·83%

76.9% vs 83.3% exact

Knockout penalties scored

12·18

UCL knockouts + World Cup / Euros / Copa knockouts

Penalty record at a glance

5 metrics
156Penalties taken222120Penalties scored18536Penalties missed3777Conversion %8312Knockout-stage penalties scoredChampions League knockouts + World Cup / Euros / Copa America knockouts.18

Messi · biggest penalties

Of these 6 big moments: 4 scored, 2 missed.

  • World Cup final vs Germany — not awarded one

    Argentina lost 1–0 in extra time; the closest call of the final was a Higuaín offside, not a penalty for Messi.

    scored

  • Copa America Centenario final vs Chile

    First spot-kick of the shootout, fired over the bar. Argentina lost 4–2 on penalties.

    missed

  • World Cup group vs Iceland

    First-half penalty saved by Hannes Halldórsson. Match ended 1–1.

    missed

  • World Cup opener vs Saudi Arabia

    Argentina's opening goal of the tournament — they then lost 2–1 and had to win every game after.

    scored

  • World Cup final vs France

    Opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the 3–3 final that Argentina won on penalties.

    scored

  • World Cup final shootout vs France

    Slotted Argentina's first kick of the shootout that won them the World Cup.

    scored

Ronaldo · biggest penalties

Of these 8 big moments: 6 scored, 2 missed.

  • Champions League final shootout vs Chelsea

    Saved by Petr Čech. United still won the shootout 6–5 after John Terry slipped.

    missed

  • Euro 2012 semi-final shootout vs Spain

    Slated to take the fifth penalty but didn't get to — Portugal had been eliminated by the time it was his turn.

    scored

  • Champions League final vs Atlético Madrid

    Late penalty in extra time of La Decima — Real Madrid 4, Atlético 1.

    scored

  • Champions League final shootout vs Atlético Madrid

    Slotted the winning penalty as Madrid took their 11th European Cup.

    scored

  • World Cup group vs Spain

    First goal of his Portugal 3–3 Spain hat-trick — including a 88th-minute free kick.

    scored

  • World Cup group vs Iran

    Saved by Beiranvand. Portugal still drew 1–1 and qualified.

    missed

  • World Cup round of 16 vs Switzerland

    Dropped from the starting XI; came on and didn't take a kick. His World Cup ended in the next round.

    scored

  • Saudi Pro League title-defining penalty vs Al-Ittihad

    Late winner that kept Al Nassr's title hopes alive — his 11th penalty of the league season.

    scored

How to read the conversion gap

Across full careers, both players convert penalties at around four-in-five — well above the league average of about 75% in major European leagues. Ronaldo has taken roughly 66 more penalties than Messi over his career, partly because he has been his team's first-choice taker at three of his five clubs from very early on, and partly because he has played in more games overall. Messi's slightly higher conversion percentage masks the fact that he has missed in higher-pressure moments — most notably the 2016 Copa America Centenario final shootout. Ronaldo's signature penalty miss is the 2008 Champions League final shootout against Chelsea; United still won.

Frequently asked

Who has scored more penalties, Messi or Ronaldo?+

Cristiano Ronaldo, by a wide margin: roughly 185 successful career penalties to Messi's ~120. Ronaldo's total is the highest in men's football.

Who has the better penalty conversion rate?+

Lionel Messi, very narrowly. Across full careers, both convert at around 77–83% — closely-matched and well above league averages. Ronaldo has taken nearly 70 more penalties over his career.

Have either of them won a World Cup with a penalty?+

Messi scored Argentina's opening penalty in the 2022 World Cup final and converted again in the shootout that won the trophy. Ronaldo's only World Cup penalty in a knockout round came in 2010.

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