Top 10 Penalty Misses by Cristiano Ronaldo Throughout His Career
In a career spanning over two decades, Cristiano Ronaldo has established himself as one of football’s greatest icons. However, even the best face moments of disappointment, and Ronaldo is no exception. Here are the top 10 penalty misses that have punctuated his illustrious career:
- Manchester United vs Chelsea (Champions League Final 2008): Ronaldo’s miss in the penalty shootout was overshadowed by Manchester United’s victory in Moscow.
- Real Madrid vs Barcelona (La Liga 2011): In a heated El Clásico encounter, Ronaldo failed to convert a penalty against Barcelona.
- Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich (Champions League Semifinal 2012): Ronaldo’s spot-kick was saved by Manuel Neuer in a tense European clash.
- Portugal vs Iran (World Cup 2006): Ronaldo missed a crucial penalty in a World Cup group stage match.
- Portugal vs Spain (Euro 2012): Iker Casillas denied Ronaldo from the spot in a Euro semifinal, adding to Portugal’s frustration.
- Real Madrid vs Valencia (La Liga 2018): Ronaldo faltered against Valencia, unable to find the net from 12 yards.
- Juventus vs Chievo (Serie A 2018): Ronaldo’s Serie A debut saw him miss a penalty against Chievo, despite Juventus securing the win.
- Portugal vs Austria (Euro 2016): Ronaldo’s penalty miss against Austria added to Portugal’s woes in the Euro group stage.
- Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid (La Liga 2019): In a Madrid derby, Ronaldo couldn’t convert from the spot against Atletico Madrid.
- Juventus vs Genoa (Serie A 2019): Ronaldo’s miss against Genoa marked another rare failure from the penalty spot.
Despite these setbacks, Ronaldo’s career has been defined by resilience and an unrivaled ability to bounce back stronger. His goal-scoring prowess continues to inspire fans worldwide, proving that even missed penalties are mere bumps in the road for a true football legend.