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The UEFA Champions League is Europe's premier competition and several clubs battle it out to win the trophy every season. However, there have also been several heart-breaking moments in some games, including star players missing crucial penalties.
The Champions League can be an intimidating stage for the best players in the world
Although the best players in the world have stepped up for their side on most occasions, the stature of the competition gets to them too. Moreover, a penalty always has a 50/50 chance of being saved, with keepers often studying the penalty-taker of the opposite team.
Understandably, the Champions League has had its fair share of nerve-wrecking penalty misses from the best in the business.
On that note, let’s take a look at the 10 players who have missed the most penalties in Champions League history:
#4 Eden Hazard, Daniel Parejo, Radamel Falcao - 3
Eden Hazard won several trophies during his time in England with Chelsea and decided to join Real Madrid in 2019. Hence, the Belgian has been an active player in the Champions League for the last 10 years but that has also warranted some unwanted records in the competition.
So far, he has managed just nine goals in 58 appearances in the competition and has also missed three penalties during that period.
Daniel Parejo is swimming in similar waters to his La Liga counter-part as the midfielder has also missed from the spot on three occasions in the Champions League.
The Spaniard is one of the most technically gifted players in Spain and has been playing in the biggest competitions for nearly a decade. He spent nine seasons at Valencia before joining Villarreal in 2020 and has two goals in 35 Champions League appearances to date.
He could increase that tally this season when the Yellow Submarine goes up against Juventus in the Round of 16 tie.
Radamel Falcao may be at Rayo Vallecano at the moment but was one of the best strikers in the world during his heyday. The Colombian international came to prominence at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone.
Although he secured Europa League success at the club, he could never make it work in the Champions League. However, he was marginally successful during his five-year stint at AS Monaco.
Falcao scored 14 goals in 32 appearances but also missed three penalties in the competition in the process.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Thomas Muller - 3
Cristiano Ronaldo is the record-highest goal-scorer in the Champions League with 140 goals in 181 appearances. Similarly, he has also won the competition a record five times.
The Portuguese legend has played for Sporting CP, Real Madrid and Juventus and re-signed for Manchester United in the summer. But given the amount of games he has played, it is only normal for him to have missed three penalties in the competition.
However, Ronaldo will be hoping to score from the spot against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 tie this season if the opportunity arises.
Although Ronaldo broke onto the scene in 2004, there was a bigger name in Portugal before him in Luis Figo. The centre-forward played for Sporting CP, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan before retiring in 2009. However, he was one of the most feared strikers in the game during his time and scored 24 goals in 103 appearances in the competition.
But the lethal attacker also missed thrice from the penalty spot during that period. Regardless, Figo had an incredibly successful career.
Thomas Muller is another name that has played in the Champions League for well over a decade. The German international has been at Bayern Munich for the last 22 years and has been representing them in Europe since being promoted to the first-team setup in 2009.
He has won the trophy twice and has scored 50 goals in 132 appearances in the competition. But at the same time, he has also failed to score three penalties.
Nevertheless, he shall be hoping to take the German club to the quarter-finals of the competition this season by beating Red Bull Salzburg in the Round of 16.
#2 Ruud van Nistelrooy, Sergio Aguero - 4
Ruud van Nistelrooy was arguably the best striker in the world in early 2000s. The centre-forward had pace, guile and an innate technical ability to beat the best defenders in the world.
He played for Heerenveen, PSV, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Hamburger SV and Malaga before hanging up his boots in 2012. During his 15 professional years at the top, the Dutchman scored 56 goals in 73 Champions League games.
Unfortunately, he also missed four penalties during that time. But he remains one of the top guns of his generation in world football.
Sergio Aguero will go down as arguably the greatest marksman in the history of the Premier League. However, his form in the Champions League was not all that bad either. The Argentinian legend was excellent in front of goal and would always give his 100% in the competition.
While he retired before being able to win the competition, he did end up scoring 41 goals in 79 games. But this tally might have been higher if he had not missed four penalties.
However, Aguero will have few regrets about his performances in the glorious competition.
#1 Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry - 5
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest player to ever grace the game. The South American star wrote his name in Barcelona folklore before joining Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
His dribbling ability, quality in set-pieces and a wand of a left foot have helped him score 125 goals in 155 Champions League appearances. Hence, he is the second highest goal-scorer in the competition but could be far closer to Cristiano Ronaldo had he not missed five penalties in the competition.
His most recent miss came in the Round of 16 tie against Real Madrid but the Argentinian will be hoping to do better in the second leg.
Thierry Henry is a Premier League great and also performed exceedingly well in the Champions League. The France international was sensational at Arsenal and continued those brilliant performances at Barcelona later in his career.
His movement, finnesse on the ball and ruthless finishing abilities made him an unstoppable player. Overall, he managed 50 goals in 113 appearances in the competition. But in the process, he also failed to score five penalties, creating an unwanted record in the tournament.
Regardless, Thierry Henry will have no regrets about it as he did go on to win the Champions League trophy before retiring.
