A player who can hold his nerve from 12 yards can be the difference maker in the Premier League.
Penalties 2025-26: Which teams score the most from the spot?
These are the Premier League players and teams who have scored the most penalties this season.
What is the exact definition of a penalty?
Sounds like an obvious explanation. But to score a penalty in the Premier League, the spot kick has to be converted directly. If a player sees their effort saved by the goalkeeper or hit the woodwork, a rebound will not count as a penalty goal.
According to the FA’s laws of the game:
- The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward; backheeling is permitted provided the ball moves forward.
- The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
- The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.
- The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence.
What do penalty numbers tell us about a player?
Just because you’re a good striker or goalscorer, doesn’t always mean you’re going to be effective from the penalty spot. Take Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who has only a 50% success rate, with six scored and six missed during his Premier League career. Raheem Sterling has an even worse success rate, scoring four and missing six.
You can also take a clinical finisher who is considered a Premier League great – Jermain Defoe. He netted a staggering 227 goals in the Premier League but when it came to penalties, he only converted eight out of a possible 24 (including in shootouts).
It’s not always a forward who has luck from the spot, either. Cole Palmer is a winger or playmaker for Chelsea but has one of the best records out there. He’s scored 13 of his 14 penalty attempts. Frank Lampard was also a penalty expert as he scored a remarkable 43 and missed seven.
Who are the best penalty takers in Premier League history?
The king of penalties in the Premier League was Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier, there is no doubt. He scored 25 during his career and missed just one, giving him a conversion rate of 96.2%. He is actually far down the list in terms of actual penalties scored – but he did play for a side that was awarded far fewer spot kicks.
Alan Shearer has the most with 55 but he missed five, with Lampard behind him in second. Mohamed Salah is third with 34 goals from the spot, while Harry Kane managed 33 and Steven Gerrard 31. Thierry Henry scored 25 from 12 yards and never had one save. Only two missed, which hit the woodwork.
But they are not among the special crop of consistent stars who have kept their misses to a minimum in the Premier League. Danny Murphy scored 18 from a possible 19, while Callum Wilson has netted 16 from 17. Yaya Toure netted a perfect 11 out of 11, while Raul Jimenez (10 from 10), Dimitar Berbatov (9 from 9) and Bryan Mbeumo (also 9 from 9) also have 100% records.
There are special mentions for the players who would be regarded as ‘penalty specialists’ in modern day Premier League history. Bruno Fernandes has converted 23 out of 27 attempts while Jorginho – with his unique run-up – has 19 from 21.
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