The World Cup. The grandest stage of all. The tension, the crowd, the margin between glory and heartbreak often comes down to one spot kick. But who has most penalties in World Cup history? Which players have carried the weight of taking spot kicks under the global spotlight? In this article, DeutKick will walk you through the players, moments, and records tied to most penalties in World Cup history — both attempts and conversions — and reveal surprising facts that even die-hard fans might not know.
What “most penalties” means in a World Cup context
Before diving into the stats, it’s important to clarify what we’re measuring. In this article, when discussing most penalties in World Cup history, we refer to penalties during regulation/extra time (i.e. spot kicks awarded in matches, not shoot-outs). Penalty shoot-outs carry their own separate recordlines, but they aren’t lumped into this category.
Thus, we’ll look at:
- The player(s) who have taken the most penalties in World Cup matches (non shoot-out).
- Those with the most scored World Cup penalties.
- Notable edge cases and tournament-wise records.
This ensures we stay focused on the drama of match-deciding 12-yard kicks, not the shoot-out lottery.
Who has taken the most penalties in World Cup matches?
When it comes to sheer attempts, the current record holder is Harry Kane. Kane is the first player in World Cup history to take 5 penalties (excluding shoot-outs).
Here’s how it breaks down (according to all-time tournament penalty data):
- Harry Kane: 5 (4 scored, 1 missed) atbunker football])
- Lionel Messi: 6 attempts, with 4 scored and 2 missed
- Rob Rensenbrink: 3 attempts, all 3 scored
So technically, Messi has taken more penalties (6) but has a greater number of misses, whereas Kane holds the record for most attempts by a player under tighter performance. Many records say Kane “became first to take 5 penalties.”
Thus, if one were to define “most penalties in World Cup history” by attempts, Messi leads with six, but Kane is often hailed as the “most frequent penalty taker” in the sport’s greatest tournament.
Why Kane’s feat is so significant
- Kane is the only player to take penalties in two separate World Cup tournaments (2018 and 2022) in different matches.
- He scored four of the five, missing only in a high-stakes moment (the match vs France, 2022).
- His consistency under pressure adds weight — few players are entrusted repeatedly enough to break such a record.
So, while Messi may have more attempts overall, Kane’s consistency and trust from set-piece duties make his milestone deeply meaningful in the context of the World Cup.
Who holds the record for most penalties scored in the World Cup?
When it comes to goals converted from penalties (again, excluding shoot-outs), Lionel Messi and Fernando Hierro top the charts with 3 successful penalties each.
Other notable names with 3 or more include Rob Rensenbrink and players.
Because the total number of penalties in World Cups is relatively low compared to club football, hitting three successful spot kicks is a significant mark.
Leading penalty scorers (match play)
- Lionel Messi – 3
- Fernando Hierro – 3
- Rob Rensenbrink – 3
It’s a tight field. Many great strikers have never had the chance or consistency to rack up multiple penalties in World Cups.
Penalties by tournament: highest single-tournament tallies
Not only do players aim to rack up penalties across multiple World Cups — there are records for single editions too. Some players have etched their names by dominating the penalty spot in just one tournament.
- Eusébio (Portugal, 1966) – 4 penalties taken and scored
- Rob Rensenbrink (Netherlands, 1978) – 4 (all scored)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina, 2022) – 4 penalties, matching the above feats
These players share the record for most penalties taken by a single player in one edition of the World Cup (non shoot-out).
What’s fascinating is that all four were taken and scored in those cases — indicating not just opportunities, but execution.
Penalty shoot-out records vs match penalties
We must differentiate between match penalties (during gameplay) and shoot-out penalties (to decide knock-out games). The records above strictly focus on the former. When we move into shoot-outs, new names dominate:
- Luka Modrić and Lionel Messi share the record for penalties scored in shoot-outs with 3 each.
- Ivan Rakitić is the only player to score two match-deciding shoot-out penalties in World Cup history (both in 2018).
Shoot-out legends have their own ecosystem separate.
Why there are few opportunities for such records
You might wonder: Why do these “most penalties” numbers seem modest? Why not 10, 15, or 20? A few key reasons:
- Fewer matches per player: Most players don’t play in more than 3–4 World Cups, and even fewer advance deep each time.
- Lower penalty incidence: The average number of penalties awarded. Rotation or tactical change: Managers may not give the same player the spot-kick duty in every match.
- Risk of miss or avoidance: After a miss, coaches might shift to another taker under pressure.
Because of these constraints, even top scorers rarely get more than a handful of penalty opportunities on football’s biggest stage.
Honorable mentions & interesting footnotes
- Some players have equal totals of attempts and conversions — e.g., Rensenbrink’s 3 for 3.
- Historical data via Statbunker shows Messi’s 6 attempts, with 4 converts, place him at the top in raw numbers.
- The disparity between “most attempts” and “most conversions” underscores the challenge: taking penalties is one thing; scoring when the stadium expects you is another.
Conclusion
Most penalties in World Cup history is a deceptively rich statistic. Lionel Messi leads in raw attempts (6), while Harry Kane holds the more defensible title of most penalties taken across tournaments (5) with greater consistency. Meanwhile, Messi and Fernando Hierro share the crown for the most scored penalties in World Cup match play (3 each).
These figures may look small compared to club totals, but they represent moments under maximum pressure — the weight of a nation, the pinnacle of the sport.
If you’re hungry for more stats — penalty shoot-out tales, club vs international penalty comparison, or player-by-player breakdowns — stick with DeutKick. We’ll help you dive deep into every angle of the beautiful game.
