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While football in 2020 has given us plenty to talk about, one of the topics that simply cannot be ignored is the VAR, its influence and its consequences - particularly the awarding of penalties.
Due to inconsistent comprehension of its rules across various leagues, VAR became a rather contentious topic during the year. There certainly were times when it seemed like an absolute blessing, affecting key decisions for the better. However, there were also plenty of times when things went the other way, and VAR was widely criticised.
VAR has significantly altered the outcomes of matches in several ways throughout the year, but none more so than the awarding of penalties.
For context, in July 2020, Serie A witnessed its seasonal penalty record getting broken.
In the 2018-19 season, a total of 122 penalties were conceded in the league. In the next season though, the number moved up to 152 after only 30 rounds of fixtures. A record 140 penalties were awarded during the 1949-50 Serie A season.
Similarly, other leagues also saw an inflated number of penalties awarded during the year.
As penalties provide players with the best chance to score goals, they are hugely significant. Several players stepped up and put away many penalties throughout the year.
On that note, here is a look at ten footballers from Europe's top five leagues who scored the most penalties in during 2020 as per Transfermarkt.
#10 Andrej Kramarić (1899 Hoffenheim/Croatia) - 7 successful penalties
1899 Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric has played only 166 matches in all competitions for his side, but he is already the top goal-scorer in the club's history, with 83 goals to his name.
The 29-year-old is a prolific goal-scorer who has scored 25 goals in his last 36 matches for the club. Of course, some of them have come from the spot.
In 2020, the Croatian scored seven penalties (all for his club), netting five in the Bundesliga and one apiece in the UEFA Europa League and the DFB-Pokal.
#9 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt) - 7 successful penalties
Mohamed Salah continues to be one of Liverpool's most important and consistent performers. The 28-year-old has scored 111 goals in just 177 matches for the club, and is their primary attacking outlet.
2020 was a significant year for Liverpool, as they finally lifted the coveted Premier League, their first league triumph in three decades. Notably, Salah was a crucial cog in the well-oiled Liverpool wheel that marched to the title in style.
The Egypt international has started the ongoing 2020-21 season with aplomb as well, scoring 17 goals in 25 matches, with six of these goals coming from the spot. He scored a penalty in January as well, taking his calendar-year tally of successful spot-kicks to seven.
#8 Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil) - 8 successful penalties
Neymar has scored a lot of goals and penalties during his career. Things have been no different at Paris Saint-Germain too, where the 28-year-old has scored a staggering 79 goals in only 97 matches in all competitions despite restricted playing-time due to injuries.
By far one of the most entertaining and talented footballers in the world, Neymar has scored several sensational goals throughout his career. However, penalties have certainly helped inflate his goal-tally, with 55 of his 320 goals coming from the spot.
In 2020, Neymar scored eight penalties - six for PSG and two for Brazil.
#7 Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla/Argentina) - 9 successful penalties
Lucas Ocampos completed a move to Sevilla in July 2019 and hit the ground running.
The 2019-20 season saw him score 17 goals in 44 matches across all competitions - the most he has ever scored in a single season, with five of those goals being penalties.
The 26-year-old Argentina international has scored four goals in the ongoing 2020-21 season, with all four coming from the spot.
In total, Ocampos scored nine penalties in 2020, and all of them were at club level (eight in La Liga and one in the UEFA Super Cup against Bayern Munich).
#6 Jordan Veretout (AS Roma) - 9 successful penalties
After spending the previous year on loan at AS Roma, Jordan Veretout joined the Italian club on a permanent basis in July last year on a four-year deal.
The 27-year-old midfielder has now appeared 59 times for the Serie A club in all competitions, scoring 15 goals.
Crucially, 11 of those goals have been from the spot. Last year, Veretout scored 13 goals, nine of them being penalties.
#5 Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina) - 9 successful penalties
Lionel Messi seems to be declining (by his staggering standards and not a mere mortal's) in terms of the goals he has been putting away. However, Barcelona's all-time top scorer is still as important to the team as he has always been.
Despite his relative slump, the 33-year-old has scored 45 goals in his last 65 matches for Barcelona. Oh, and he has also notched up 33 assists during the same period.
For a player who has scored magnificent goals galore, it should come as no surprise that he has also scored a lot of penalties.
In 2020, the Argentina international scored nine penalties - eight for Barcelona (five in La Liga and three in the UEFA Champions League) and one for Argentina.
#4 Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan/Belgium) - 10 successful penalties
Romelu Lukaku, who has scored three penalties this season, has seemed like a vastly different player at Inter Milan since arriving from Manchester United. The 27-year-old has scored 50 goals in only 71 matches in all competitions for the club.
In the ongoing 2020-21 season, Lukaku has scored 16 goals in only 20 matches for Inter, with three of them being penalties.
He scored ten penalties in 2020 - eight for Inter Milan and two for Belgium.
#3 Ciro Immobile (Lazio/Italy) - 14 successful penalties
Since joining Lazio in July 2016, Ciro Immobile has been one of the most prolific strikers in the world.
Now in his fifth season at the club, the 30-year-old has played 196 matches in all competitions and has scored the second-most number of goals in the club's history (141) - just nine away from the record holder.
During his career, Immobile has scored 219 goals in 391 matches, with 55 of them being penalties. In 2020, the Italy international scored as many as 14 penalties, all of them were at the club-level.
#2 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/Portugal) - 15 successful penalties
Bruno Fernandes joined Manchester United in January 2020 for a fee reported to be worth €80 million.
In the 12 months since, he has proved to be one of the most impactful signings ever made, completely rejuvenating the side and helping them to second spot in the Premier League table, level on points with league leaders Liverpool.
In 47 matches for the Red Devils in all competitions, the 26-year-old has been involved in as many as 44 goals, scoring 27 and assisting 17.
Currently the most important player in the team, Fernandes is also the designated penalty taker and has done the duty full justice.
In 2020, he scored 15 penalties for Manchester United (nine in the Premier League, two in the UEFA Champions League, three in the UEFA Europa League and one in the FA Cup).
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal) - 17 penalties
Is it even possible for Cristiano Ronaldo to not feature in a listicle about goals? The 5-time Ballon d'Or winner is in his third season at Juventus but already holds a few club records.
He finished the 2019-20 season with 37 goals from 46 matches in all competitions - the most any player has scored in a single season for Juventus.
In the ongoing season, the Portugal international has already notched up 18 goals in only 16 matches.
Among his current tally of 758 goals for club and country, several have come from the spot. Ronaldo has scored a staggering 133 penalties in club and international football.
In 2020, the Portugal captain scored 17 penalties, all of them for Juventus (13 in Serie A, three in the UEFA Champions League and one in the Coppa Italia).
