The Premier League has witnessed some of the greatest penalty takers in football, with a few legends boasting near-perfect records. From spot-kicks that sealed important victories to those taken under immense pressure, penalty-taking is a skill that has become synonymous with the league’s finest players. Here, we explore the best and worst Premier League penalty takers based on their conversion rates, along with some quirky facts about penalties in the competition.

The Best: 100% Success Rate and Beyond

Yaya Touré (11/11 – 100%) Until the 2024-25 season, Yaya Touré held the accolade for the most penalties taken in the Premier League without a miss, having scored all 11 of his attempts. Known for his composure and powerful strikes, Touré’s perfect penalty record was a reflection of his cool-headed nature on the field. He scored many match-winning penalties for Manchester City, including several crucial goals that gave his team the lead.

Raúl Jiménez (10/10 – 100%) In December 2024, Raúl Jiménez of Fulham joined the exclusive club of 100% penalty takers. Scoring 10 out of 10, Jiménez’s spot-kick reliability has been remarkable. He earned his place in Premier League history with perfect composure, especially in critical moments.

Bryan Mbeumo (10/10 – 100%) Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo followed in Jiménez’s footsteps, also boasting a perfect record from the penalty spot, having converted 10 out of 10 attempts. While the consistency of Mbeumo’s performances might be impressive, his spot-kick technique has also been faultless, earning him a place among the league’s most reliable takers.

Matthew Le Tissier (25/26 – 96.2%) Known for his incredible penalty-taking accuracy, Matt Le Tissier’s penalty record in the Premier League is legendary. He scored 25 out of 26 spot-kicks, missing only once during a game against Nottingham Forest in 1993, where goalkeeper Mark Crossley denied him. Le Tissier’s calm and composed approach, often placing penalties with precision rather than power, made him one of the best in the Premier League’s history.

Danny Murphy (18/19 – 94.7%) Danny Murphy’s penalty-taking abilities were almost flawless, with an impressive 94.7% conversion rate, scoring 18 out of 19 attempts. His only miss came in a game against Manchester City, where Joe Hart saved his penalty. Despite this, Murphy’s reliability from the spot during his time at Fulham and Liverpool earned him a place among the best.

Callum Wilson (16/17 – 94.1%) Callum Wilson’s 94.1% conversion rate places him among the Premier League’s best. With 16 successful penalties out of 17 attempts, Wilson has demonstrated great consistency from the spot. His only miss came in 2018 against Cardiff City, but his ability to score penalties when it matters most has solidified his reputation as a clutch performer.

James Beattie (16/17 – 94.1%) Another striker with a near-perfect penalty record, James Beattie also scored 16 out of 17 penalties in the Premier League. Beattie was known for his power and composure, converting with remarkable regularity and never allowing the pressure of the moment to overwhelm him.

Julian Dicks (15/16 – 93.8%) West Ham’s Julian Dicks was a no-nonsense penalty taker who favored power in his approach. Though Dicks had a stellar record, scoring 15 out of 16, he still missed once, with his penalty against Arsenal in 1996 saved by David Seaman. His high success rate nonetheless solidified his place among the Premier League’s penalty-taking elite.

Cole Palmer (12/13 – 92.3%) Cole Palmer, who rose to prominence as a Chelsea player, initially had a perfect record with 12 out of 12 penalties converted. However, in March 2025, Palmer’s 100% record was broken after he missed a penalty against Leicester City, bringing his conversion rate down to 92.3%. Nonetheless, his spot-kick ability remains highly impressive.

Thierry Henry (23/25 – 92%) Arsenal legend Thierry Henry never saw a Premier League penalty saved but missed two of his 25 attempts. Both of his misses came against Finnish goalkeepers, with one hitting the post on each occasion. Despite the occasional miss, Henry’s conversion rate remains exceptional, and his calm demeanor from the spot made him one of the most feared players in the Premier League.

Ivan Toney (11/12 – 91.7%) Ivan Toney was known for his powerful and accurate penalty-taking style, scoring 11 out of 12 in the Premier League. He briefly held a perfect record before missing a penalty in 2023, but his overall success rate still places him among the elite in the Premier League.

The Worst: Players with Low Conversion Rates

While some players excel from the penalty spot, others have struggled to make their mark. These players have faced difficulties with their penalty-taking consistency, with many seeing their conversion rates drop below 70%.

Juan Pablo Ángel (5/10 – 50%) Juan Pablo Ángel, Aston Villa’s Colombian striker, holds the dubious distinction of having the worst penalty conversion rate among players who’ve taken 10 or more penalties in the Premier League. Scoring only five out of 10, Ángel’s struggles from the spot were highlighted by his two missed penalties in a single game against Fulham in 2005.

Steed Malbranque (6/10 – 60%) Steed Malbranque, a former midfielder for Fulham, scored just 60% of his Premier League penalties. Despite his technical ability on the field, he was unable to replicate this composure when it came to taking penalties, leaving his team without a reliable option from the spot.

Dwight Yorke (6/10 – 60%) Despite being a prolific striker for Aston Villa and Manchester United, Dwight Yorke scored just 60% of his penalties in the Premier League. His failure to convert from the spot in key moments cost his teams valuable points on several occasions.

Kevin Phillips (11/18 – 61.1%) Kevin Phillips, a striker renowned for his finishing ability, converted just 61.1% of his penalties in the Premier League. This underperformance from the spot was a notable contrast to his goal-scoring record in open play, showing that not every striker has the composure needed for penalty kicks.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (8/13 – 61.5%) Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic has also struggled with penalty-taking, converting only 61.5% of his attempts. This disappointing rate reflects his inconsistency when stepping up to the spot, leaving many Fulham fans hoping for improvement.

Wilfried Zaha (7/11 – 63.6%) Wilfried Zaha, known for his flair and trickery, has a less-than-impressive penalty record, converting just 63.6% of his attempts. This subpar conversion rate has often been a point of frustration for Crystal Palace fans, as Zaha’s missed penalties have cost them crucial points on several occasions.

Paul Pogba (7/11 – 63.6%) Manchester United’s Paul Pogba also falls into the category of less reliable penalty takers, with only a 63.6% conversion rate from the spot. Though Pogba’s overall contributions for United were significant, his inconsistency from the penalty spot was one of his more disappointing aspects.

Notable Quirky Facts

The Premier League has its share of quirky penalty facts. For instance, Justin Kluivert became the first player to score a hat-trick of penalties in a single match, achieving this feat in 2024 against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Meanwhile, Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer, holds the record for most penalties scored (56), and Raheem Sterling has won the most penalties in Premier League history (26).

On the other hand, some players, like Juninho, have failed miserably when it comes to penalties, with no one in Premier League history having missed all of their four attempts, as he did.

Conclusion

From legendary names like Matt Le Tissier and Harry Kane to those who have struggled like Juan Pablo Ángel and Dwight Yorke, the Premier League’s history with penalty-taking has been a mix of brilliance and frustration. While some players have consistently delivered under pressure, others have struggled to convert from the spot, proving that the mental challenge of penalty-taking is just as significant as the physical one.