Penalty kicks are some of the most intense moments in football, where just one player stands on the spot, facing a keeper and a stadium full of fans holding their breath as they await that crack of the ball.
As easy as this may look from the outside, it takes nerves of steel, precision, and a sprinkle of luck to convert penalties effectively.
The Premier League has seen some amazing penalty-takers over the years.
So, here goes the Top 17 Best Penalty-takers in Premier League history, with a ranking based on players having taken 10 or more penalties.
- 1. Yaya Touré (100% – 11/11)
- 2. Cole Palmer (100% – 10/10)
- 3. Matthew Le Tissier (96.2% – 25/26)
- 4. Danny Murphy (94.7% – 18/19)
- 5. Callum Wilson (94.1% – 16/17)
- 6. James Beattie (94.1% – 16/17)
- 7. Julian Dicks (93.8% – 15/16)
- 8. Erling Haaland (93.8% – 15/16)
- 9. Thierry Henry (92.0% – 23/25)
- 10. Ivan Toney (91.7% – 11/12)
- 11. Leighton Baines (90.9% – 20/22)
- 12. Bukayo Saka (90.9% – 10/11)
- 13. Danny Ings (90.9% – 10/11)
- 14. Gary Speed (90.9% – 10/11)
- 15. Frank Leboeuf (90.9% – 10/11)
- 16. Peter Beardsley (90.0% – 18/20)
- 17. Alexis Mac Allister (90.0% – 9/10)
1. Yaya Touré (100% – 11/11)
Yaya Touré was a powerhouse in Manchester City; any time there was a penalty involved, he never missed one.
He shot 11 penalties in the Premier League and made each count.
As with his general midfield authoritative command, Touré showed composure under the weight of pressure. Seven out of those spot-kicks eventually proved to be match-winners-just how important his penalties were.
His secret? Power combined with pinpoint accuracy, he was not only just scoring penalties but dictating the outcome of matches with them.
2. Cole Palmer (100% – 10/10)
Young Chelsea star Cole Palmer might be the new name in this lot, but his penalty-taking skills have quickly become legendary.
Scoring his 10th consecutive Premier League penalty against Brighton in September 2024, Palmer entered that elite club of players with a perfect penalty record.
The cool nature of Palmer, even at moments of high intensity, has been one pretty characteristic of seasoned pros, and with the form he is in, he may keep going up the Premier League penalty leaderboards.
3. Matthew Le Tissier (96.2% – 25/26)
One of the names that comes up whenever one thinks of Premier League penalty experts is of Matthew Le Tissier.
Nicknamed ‘Le God‘ by Southampton fans, he netted 25 out of 26 penalties the only failure against Nottingham Forest’s Mark Crossley in 1993. That aside, Le Tissier was a model of consistency from the spot, often technique over power.
Not only did he score penalties, but he also made them look like the easiest thing in the world as his cool, casual manner almost dared the keeper to go the wrong way.
4. Danny Murphy (94.7% – 18/19)
Danny was a workmanlike midfielder for several top-flight teams, and his efficiency from twelve yards out shouldn’t be underestimated.
With an enviable scoring ratio of 18 out of 19, Murphy missed just once against Manchester City in 2008, which was saved by Joe Hart.
True to his fighting spirit, he scored from the rebound and Fulham ended up winning the match 3-2. Many of the penalties that he took came at crucial junctures, and his coolness under pressure meant that he seldom misfired.
10 Largest Stadium Capacity In The Premier League (2023/24 Season)
5. Callum Wilson (94.1% – 16/17)
Newcastle‘s Callum Wilson has been nothing short of certain at the penalty spot, with only one miss out of 17 penalties taken. The only miss was against Cardiff City in 2018, which Neil Etheridge saved.
That therefore leaves Wilson with an otherwise impressive conversion rate of 94.1%. His penalties have all been about composure, something necessary to live under the bright lights of the Premier League.
6. James Beattie (94.1% – 16/17)
A proper goal-scorer in his Premier League days, James Beattie is nothing short of outstanding when it comes to penalties.
With 16 successful penalties out of 17, Beattie was one of those forwards you could always rely upon.
He might not have been the most flashy kind of striker, but his penalty-taking skills were second to none, and the power he used to drive in a spot kick mostly left goalkeepers rooted to their spots.
7. Julian Dicks (93.8% – 15/16)
An uncompromising defender with an eye for goal, Julian Dicks was a no-nonsense, unexpected penalty specialist. As direct as his style of play was, the method of taking penalties was pure power and accuracy.
The only penalty he missed in the Premier League required David Seaman to save it from him.
His success rate from the spot stands at 93.8%, which makes him one of the best, considering this is where he has managed to bring his robust style of play into the art of penalty-taking.
8. Erling Haaland (93.8% – 15/16)
When Erling Haaland came to Manchester City, many had questioned whether his prolific goal-scoring in the other leagues he had played in would spill into the Premier League. Suffice it to say he didn’t disappoint.
Having scored 93.8% of his penalties, any keeper would be shivering with fear as Haaland steps up in front of goal.
With either powerful shots or calm, compositional finishes, this Norwegian sensation is already etching his name into Premier League lore, and at just 23, a lot more is expected from him.
9. Thierry Henry (92.0% – 23/25)
Henry had incredible finishing, and that extended to his penalties.
The Arsenal legend converted 23 of his 25 Premier League penalties, and interestingly enough, his two misses both hit the post. His penalties, like his overall play, were so elegantly composed yet dangerous.
That he could also rise to the big moment landed him as one of the best ever from the spot in the Premier League.
10. Ivan Toney (91.7% – 11/12)
Ivan Toney of Brentford burst into the limelight with a 100% penalty record, scoring his first 10 Premier League penalties without breaking a sweat.
That perfect streak was finally broken in April 2023 when he missed a penalty against Newcastle United. Even with that miss, he surely remains one of the most feared penalty-takers in the league before moving to Saudi.
That is added to his peculiar way of taking penalties, which mostly involves a hop before he strikes the ball, adding the factor of unpredictability that keeps goalkeepers at bay.
11. Leighton Baines (90.9% – 20/22)
Leighton Baines was more than just a solid left-back for Everton; he was also a dead-eye taker of penalties.
In all, Baines converted 20 of the 22 Premier League penalties he took, with his only misses coming against Manchester United’s David De Gea. His calm demeanour and flawless technique made him a go-to option for Everton whenever they earned a spot-kick.
Truly exceptional for a defender was how Baines normally beat goalkeepers from the penalty spot.
12. Bukayo Saka (90.9% – 10/11)
A high-profile miss of a penalty by Bukayo Saka in the Euro 2020 final might have scarred this young Arsenal starlet for life. But like a true professional, he bounced back.
In the Premier League, Saka has taken 11 penalties and scored 10 of them, showing maturity beyond his years.
His resurgence from that difficult moment was a sign of how talented and resilient he is, with him certainly ranking as one of the most reliable current Premier League penalty-takers.
13. Danny Ings (90.9% – 10/11)
Danny Ings is a clinical striker in the Premier League, and his penalty record justifies that fact.
Having scored 10 goals from 11 attempts, Ings is one of those forwards you can bank upon from the spot.
Usually, his calm and composed finishes are low and precise to outsmart the goalkeeper more often than not. It might not be as headline-gripping, but Ings has been top-notch in efficiency from the spot all through his career.
14. Gary Speed (90.9% – 10/11)
The late Gary Speed was more about leadership and all-around ability, though his record from 12 yards out tends to get overlooked.
In the Premier League alone, Speed made 10 of his 11 penalties count. Be it in midfield or in defense, Speed was always the one assured of delivering from 12 yards.
15. Frank Leboeuf (90.9% – 10/11)
Surprisingly, former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf was an ultimate penalty specialist during his time in the Premier League, converting 10 of his 11 penalties-an excellent record for a centre-back.
Usually, Leboeuf’s penalties were hard and accurate, cool under pressure and helped Chelsea secure valuable points during his time at the club.
16. Peter Beardsley (90.0% – 18/20)
A tricky forward who had an eye for goal, Peter Beardsley was never a stranger to scoring a penalty.
He managed to convert 18 of his 20 penalties in the Premier League by mainly using placement and power together to try and beat goalkeepers.
With the stage set, Beardsley’s intelligent approach to penalties made him one of the most reliable takers during his time in the league, whose ability to read keeper movements often gave him an upper hand.
17. Alexis Mac Allister (90.0% – 9/10)
Mac Allister is one of the latest arrivals to the top flight of the Premier League penalty ranks.
However, his influence on the pitch has been immediate. The Argentinian midfielder, currently plying his trade at Liverpool, has converted 9 of his 10 taken Premier League penalties. His only miss thus far came for Brighton against Wolves.
With such calmness under pressure, and game intelligence by Mac Allister is second to none, and he proves to be important to any team whenever it comes down to taking a spot kick.
Honorable Mentions
While the above 17 players make up the crème de la crème of EPL penalty takers, several others make for notable mentions in this list. The likes of Harry Kane, Alan Shearer, and Frank Lampard might not come up with the best rates of conversion, but the volumes they possess in scored penalties place them in a different league altogether.
After all, taking penalties is about something more than the statistics, it’s about keeping your nerve, about handling pressure, and delivering when it matters.
And that is precisely what these 17 players have done, earning their places as the best penalty-takers the Premier League has ever seen.
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