February 9, 2025

How Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi compare in penalty shootout

Penalty shootout comparison between PSG star Lionel Messi and Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

The premise that penalty goals are less legitimate, padding out the incredible records as the all-time top scorers of Argentine and Portugual internationals, respectively.

Ronaldo has a reputation as being the more dependable penalty-taker.

But between the two, who has the better record from 12 yards out, and has scored more spot-kicks overall?

Messi told Catalunya Radio back in 2018, “I would like to be more effective from the penalty spot.”

“But it’s difficult to work on penalties. It’s not the same taking them in training as it is in a game. You can have an idea in your head or something you have worked on, but it’s more difficult than it seems.

“The goalkeeper has a lot to do with it, too. If they guess right, they save it. But it’s obvious that I’d like to get better at taking penalties.”

Messi and Ronaldo’s penalty shootout at club and country level

Cristiano Ronaldo

Club penalties taken: 149

Club penalties scored: 127

Success rate: 85.2%

International penalties taken: 22

International penalties scored: 16

Success rate: 72.7%

Total penalties taken: 171

Total penalties scored: 143

Total success rate: 83.6%

The proportion of career club goals: 18.45%

The proportion of career international goals: 13.9%

The proportion of total goals: 17.8%

Shootout record: 

Scored six of eight penalties taken (75%). Won seven, lost five (didn’t take a penalty in four shootouts).

Notable misses:

2008 Champions League semi-final vs Barcelona (still won)

2008 Champions League final vs Chelsea (shootout) (still won)

2012 Champions League semi-final vs Bayern Munich (shootout) (lost)

Lionel Messi

Club penalties taken: 109

Club penalties scored: 84

Success rate: 77.1%

International penalties taken: 22

International penalties scored: 18

Success rate: 81.8%

Total penalties taken: 131

Total penalties scored: 102

Total success rate: 77.9%

The proportion of career club goals: 12.3%

The proportion of career international goals: 22.5%

The proportion of total goals: 13.45%

Shootout record: 

Scored six of seven penalties taken (85%). Won three, lost four.

Notable misses:

2012 Champions League semi-final vs Chelsea (lost)

2016 Copa America final vs Chile (shootout) (lost)

Also read,

Top EPL teams with most red cards in league’s history: Arsenal leads

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