In a recent Inter Miami match against Charlotte FC, Lionel Messi’s penalty miss, attempted using the Panenka style, became a talking point. It was the 32nd time Messi has failed to convert a penalty in his professional career. This incident has led to discussions on how his penalty-taking record compares to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. For almost two decades, Messi and Ronaldo have been the most prominent players globally, leading their clubs and countries while taking penalties. Ronaldo, the designated penalty taker for Real Madrid and his subsequent clubs, has taken 210 penalties, scoring 177 and missing 33, which equates to an 84.29% success rate. In contrast, Messi, who took over penalty duties for Barcelona from Ronaldinho and later for Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, and Argentina, has taken 145 penalties, scoring 113 and missing 32, with a 77.93% success rate. Messi’s miss also ended an impressive streak of nearly three years without missing a penalty during regular gameplay.
