Most Penalties Scored At World Cups

Spreadex Sports Study Reveals Which Team Has Scored The Most Penalties At World Cups; Find out where England place, the surprise teams with more penalties scored than Brazil, and which multi-time winners miss out on the top rankings.

The 2018 World Cup set a record for the number of penalties given and scored. With the added introduction of VAR 29 penalties were given across the 64 matches. However, only 22 of them were put away as both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo missed in group stage matches. World Cup penalty shoot-outs are often considered the peak of sporting tension. However, penalties in normal time also carry an incredible amount of pressure.

Spreadex have crunched the numbers to reveal which teams have scored the most World Cup penalties (excluding shoot-outs) and which players were responsible for delivering those goals.

1. Spain – 15 scored

• Fernando Hierro (3)
• David Villa (2)
• 10 others (1)

2010 winners Spain come out on top with a mighty 15 penalties put away. Perhaps slightly surprisingly considering Spain’s didn’t qualify for 4 tournaments between 1954 – 1974. However, Spain have not only scored the most, but they’ve had a host of different reliable takers.

2. France – 13 scored.

• Antoine Griezmann (3)
• Raymond Kopa (2)
• Zinédine Zidane (2)

Defending champions France scored 3 penalties in 2018 and sit 2^nd in the all-time list with 13 scored. Antoine Griezmann will be hoping to add to his tally in Qatar. France have scored two penalties in World Cup finals showing that they can rise above the pressure when it matters most.

3. England – 11 scored

• Harry Kane (3)
• Ron Flowers (2)
• Gary Lineker (2)

While famed for their woeful record in World Cup penalty shoot-outs, England have fared much better in normal time. 11 penalties scored puts them joint 3^rd in the list. Harry Kane successfully converted 3 in 2018 as England reached the semi-finals and England will hope they can count on Kane again.

3. West Germany (& Germany) – 11 scored

• Lothar Matthäus (2)
• Fritz Walter (2)
• 7 others (1)

Known for being cool under pressure, West Germany and then Germany have scored 11 pens in their World Cup history. Scorers for them include 1990 winning captain Lothar Matthäus, however perhaps surprisingly none from all time World Cup top scorer – Miroslav Klose.

4. Mexico – 10 scored

• Cuauhtémoc Blanco (2)
• Alberto García Aspe (2)
• 6 others (1)

The first side to have not won the World Cup, the furthest stage Mexico have reached is the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986 where both times they were the host nation. Despite their failure to lift the trophy the Mexican’s can be proud of their historical reliability from the spot.

4. Netherlands – 10 scored

• Rob Resenbrink (4)
• Johan Neeskens (3)
• 3 others (1)

Level with Mexico on 10 penalties scored. The Netherlands have also never won the World Cup, suffering defeats in the final in 1974, 1978 and 2014. Famed for their technical ability, Dutch forward Rob Resenbrink holds the join record for most penalties scored at World Cups (4).

5. Brazil – 9 scored

• 9 players (1)

The most successful World Cup team in history with 5 tournament wins, and the only team to appear at every tournament. Brazil perhaps surprisingly have only scored 9 penalties at World Cups. 9 unique scorers include Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and current star Neymar.

With the growing number of penalties awarded at World Cups, teams will be looking to ensure they have a reliable scorer in place, current forwards Harry Kane and Antoine Griezmann are just one goal away from equalling the record for most penalties scored at World Cups. Meanwhile Lionel Messi is still looking to score his first World Cup penalty, in what seems for certain to be his last tournament.

However, despite the importance of having a reliable taker, converting penalties in matches are not a guarantee of tournament success. Spain have only won one World Cup. While Mexico and the Netherlands sit above multiple time winners – Argentina, Brazil, and Italy.