Cristiano Ronaldo penalty miss against Ireland sets unwanted record for most missed penalties in football history, despite his high conversion rate

Cristiano Ronaldo penalty miss against Ireland on Saturday has handed the Portuguese icon a record he would surely rather avoid — the most penalty misses in football history.

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The 40-year-old forward, currently playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, was denied by Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in Portugal’s recent friendly, marking his 34th missed penalty across his senior career.

No other player has failed from the spot more times than Ronaldo.

However, the statistic comes with a silver lining. Ronaldo has taken more penalties than anyone else in football history, with 211 attempts.

He has successfully converted 177 of them, boasting an impressive 83.8% success rate — far superior to many of his contemporaries.

The latest miss pushes him just ahead of long-time rival Lionel Messi, who has missed 32 penalties in his career.

Neymar follows with 22, while other legendary names like Francesco Totti and Zlatan Ibrahimović also appear among the top penalty misers.

Despite the latest setback, Ronaldo’s penalty record remains a testament to his longevity and responsibility under pressure.

His total of 177 goals from the spot stands as a world record and highlights his enduring influence on the game.

Still, this new distinction adds a bittersweet note to his legacy.

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While he may lead in total penalties taken and scored, Ronaldo now also carries the weight of a record few would envy — the most penalty misses in modern football history.

Cristiano Ronaldo breaks record with penalty miss shame