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#3 Fernando Pacheco - 2 penalties
Few will remember Fernando Pacheco as the name who saved spot-kicks from both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Like Diego Lopez, he also started at Real Madrid and occasionally shared a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo. But with the likes of Iker Casillas among the ranks, Pacheco sought his future elsewhere and joined Alaves.
Pacheco has been a regular for the club and has been the leading man for his team when it comes to keeping opponents at bay.
He saved one penalty each from Cristiano Ronaldo (2016-17 La Liga) and Lionel Messi (2017-18 La Liga). While his performances have been disciplined and consistent, Pacheco is yet to add a trophy to his name since the Club World Cup, which he won during his stint with Real Madrid.
#2 Thibaut Courtois - 2 penalties
Arguably the biggest name on this list, Thibaut Courtois has been an absolute superstar in world football. He has played at some of the biggest clubs in the world and is currently the Real Madrid custodian.
Courtois' duels with Lionel Messi are iconic and he has incredibly saved the Argentine's spot-kicks twice in his career. The first came in a 2013-14 Supercopa de Espana game in Atletico Madrid colors. The next will be very fresh in the memory of the Madridistas since it happened as recently as 16 February in the Champions League Round of 16 game against Paris Saint-Germain.
Today, Courtois is one of the best keepers in the game and uses his tall frame to churn out impossible saves. There has been no shortage of silverware for him as he has won both the La Liga and the Premier League. However, the Champions League trophy has eluded him, and he will indeed aim to win it this season with Real Madrid.
#1 Diego Alves - 4 penalties
Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves is a La Liga veteran, having spent over a decade in Spain. He started there with Almeria but his best years were for Valencia, for whom Alves was one of the most consistent and steady shot-stoppers in the league.
Alves was proficient in generally saving penalties, but those taken by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are never ordinary spot-kicks. Nevertheless, Alves has managed to save a combined four penalties from the two modern greats over the years.
In an unimaginable showing of supreme spot-kick saves, Alves has saved three of Ronaldo's penalties till date. These events occurred in the 2009-10, 2014-15 and the 2016-17 versions of La Liga. Alves saved one from Messi in the 2011-12 Copa del Rey.
Unfortunately, Alves' consistent performances for Valencia never materialized into a trophy. All his club honors have come in the Brasileiro Serie A, which he won with Flamengo. He has also been able to win the Copa Libertadores, which is the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.
