Worst Premier League Penalty Takers – Ranked

July 24, 2025 Oliver Obel

Penalty kicks are often seen as guaranteed goals, but even the best players can falter from the spot. This list highlights the worst penalty takers in Premier League history, ranked from the least bad to the very worst, based on their conversion percentage. Let’s count down the biggest offenders when it comes to missing penalties.

16. Romelu Lukaku – 70.0% Conversion (7/10)

Lukaku may be a powerhouse striker, but from the penalty spot, he's far from clinical. Scoring just 7 out of 10 attempts, the Belgian’s inconsistency from 12 yards has cost his teams at times.

15. Jermain Defoe – 70.0% Conversion (14/20)

Known for his sharp finishing, Defoe surprisingly struggled with penalties. Despite his experience and composure, missing 6 out of 20 attempts puts him on this underwhelming list.

14. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 69.2% Conversion (9/13)

Aubameyang’s flair and pace didn’t always translate to composure from the spot. His 9 goals from 13 penalties highlight an area of weakness during his Premier League stints.

13. Jonathan Walters – 68.8% Conversion (11/16)

Walters was a hardworking player, but nerves seemed to get the better of him when taking penalties. A 68.8% success rate is well below par for a regular taker.

12. Riyad Mahrez – 68.4% Conversion (13/19)

Despite his silky style and technical ability, Mahrez has been unreliable from the spot. Several high-profile misses have dented his reputation as a dependable penalty taker.

11. Teddy Sheringham – 67.7% Conversion (21/31)

Sheringham was a cool and clever forward, yet his penalty record is surprisingly modest. Scoring just over two-thirds of his attempts reflects a strange inconsistency for such an experienced player.

10. Wayne Rooney – 67.6% Conversion (23/34

Rooney may be Manchester United’s all-time top scorer, but penalties weren’t his forte. With 11 misses out of 34, his conversion rate leaves much to be desired.

9. Christian Benteke – 66.7% Conversion (10/15)

Benteke was often trusted with penalty duties, but only delivered two-thirds of the time. His lack of accuracy from the spot adds to his reputation as a frustratingly inconsistent finisher.

8. Michael Owen – 66.7% Conversion (14/21)

For a player of Owen’s calibre, his penalty record is quite poor. The former Ballon d’Or winner missed 7 of his 21 attempts in the league.

7. Paul Pogba – 63.6% Conversion (7/11)

Pogba’s trademark slow run-up often drew attention, but not always results. His penalty style was criticised, and his 63.6% success rate shows it didn’t consistently work.

6. Wilfried Zaha – 63.6% Conversion (7/11)

Zaha’s explosive style didn’t help him from the spot. Like Pogba, he scored only 7 of 11 penalties, often lacking the finishing touch under pressure.

5. Aleksandar Mitrović – 61.5% Conversion (8/13)

Aleksandar Mitrovic — Cosmin Iftode / Shutterstock.com

Mitrović’s raw power hasn’t translated into reliability from 12 yards. A 61.5% success rate makes him one of the least trustworthy penalty takers among regular shooters.

4. Kevin Phillips – 61.1% Conversion (11/18)

Despite being a Golden Boot winner, Phillips struggled with penalties. Missing 7 of 18 efforts is a major stain on an otherwise impressive career.

3. Dwight Yorke – 60.0% Conversion (6/10)

Yorke, famed for his finishing during Manchester United’s treble-winning season, was far less effective from the spot. He converted just 6 out of 10 penalties in the league.

2. Steed Malbranque – 60.0% Conversion (6/10)

Malbranque was a solid midfielder, but penalty-taking wasn’t his strength. With only 6 goals from 10 attempts, his record shows why he wasn’t a first-choice taker.

1. Juan Pablo Ángel – 50.0% Conversion (5/10)

Topping the list is Ángel, who astonishingly missed half of his Premier League penalties. Scoring just 5 out of 10, he holds the unfortunate title of the league’s worst regular penalty taker.

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