The most nervy of all moments during the course of a given soccer match, is the penalty shootout, a psychological warfare: Two men, one ball and stakes that do not get much greater in soccer, a clear chance to score a goal.
Over the years of world football history, penalties and missed penalties have provided memories littered with controversial and dramatic moments. A penalty is supposed to be finished at the professional level: period. Anything else is a failure.
Such a task should only be required of players made with the iciest of veins.
For GKs, a penalty save is a way to distinguish themselves, shift momentum in a match and let whichever defender conceded off the hook for his mistake.
This slideshow looks at some of the best penalty kick takers in the history of world football. There is no overall empirical method employed for this list. And while some of the ranking is based around numerical penalty success, there are other variables considered and gathered from watching penalties and researching style and stakes.
As always, no list is 100 percent correct, so feel free to provide any comments about who was missed, who should be higher or who should be lower.
13. Robin Van Persie
The former Arsenal, current Manchester United man Robin van Persie is expertly efficient in terms of chance conversion.
Simply stated, the Dutchman is classy enough to finish a number of his chances.
So it is now wonder that van Persie is quality during penalty situations.
The Red Devil activates his sublime left-foot for penalties aimed for the bottom corner on many occasions.
12. Graham Alexander
The Coventry, England-born Graham Alexander is known for his durability and longevity.
He had a long footballing career as both a right back and defensive midfielder.
In addition to being able to play match after match without missing a beat, Alexander was a penalty kick specialist. He found the back of the net without fear and often started his run to the ball beyond the box.
11. Andrea Pirlo
Italian orchestrator Andrea Pirlo is a visionary and consistently offers his teammates distribution so gorgeous that some might confuse his passing for modern art.
Pirlo translated his mastery over the soccer ball onto the penalty spot. The penalty above, against England in the 2012 European Cup was a delight to watch.
With confidence in spades, Pirlo calmly chipped Joe Hart to perfection during one of the biggest moments of his career. Extraordinary stuff from the Azzurri.
10. Michael Ballack
German international Michael Ballack combined powerful athleticism and superior technique to create an overall soccer ability capable of dominating the middle third of the pitch.
Called upon for both Germany and Chelsea, Ballack often used his laces to strike the ball with accuracy and power along the ground during penalty opportunities.
On many occasions, Ballack guided the ball to the side of the net with pace and precision.
9. Michel Platini
Michel Platini was known for exquisite passing and dead-ball expertise.
One of the best footballers ever to play for France, Platini helped his country win the 1984 European Championship. He was named as the tournament's best player and was the leading goalscorer.
Platini could get the job done from the penalty spot. By employing his advanced technique, Platini was efficient at picking his spot and calmly finding the back of the net.
8. Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard, Liverpool legend and England mainstay, can strike a soccer ball with his laces better than or as just as effectively as any footballer in recorded history.
Known for longer shots from beyond the box, Gerrard can also pound the back of the net from 12 yards away, too.
The Liverpool skipper often employs the same part of his right foot that has made him so deadly over the years from the penalty spot. It has served him quite well in some tense moments.
7. Alessandro Del Piero
Legendary striker Alessandro Del Piero has scored for club and country on numerous occasions.
Del Piero is one of the top-scorers in Italian history and leads his former club, Juventus, as the team's most prolific goalscorer.
Primed with belief is his own ability, passion and a knack for corralling and controlling the ball to perfection, Del Piero has no fear from the penalty spot. Nor should he; Del Piero is special.
6. Ronaldinho
one of the most memorable tricksters in soccer history.
His beaming personality is reflected in his free-flowing and carefree playing style.
Well-equipped during dead-ball scenarios, the Brazilian finished well from the spot more often than not, fooling the goalkeeper with a slight shift in body weight before striking with accuracy.
5. CR7
Fans of the English national team might want to avert their eyes from the above clip of a young Cristiano Ronaldo burying a winning penalty in a shoot-out against the Three Lions.
It was the first of many clutch penalties the Portuguese superstar would go onto the hit for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Portugal.
Ronaldo is a confident footballer. He employs poise and patience from the spot, clearly exhibiting just how seriously he takes this sort of opportunities from his focused body language.
4. Frank Lampard
Involved in critical penalty situations for both club and country, Frank Lampard is always up for the responsibilities that come with taking a PK.
He finished his attempt against Manchester United in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. The Englishman also buried a penalty in the semi-final against Liverpool, just days after his mother had passed away.
Right-foot all the way, Lampard is a class penalty-taker.
3. Zinedine Zidane
2006 World Cup final performance will forever be remembered for two actions: His infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi and his ridiculously cheeky penalty that gave France an early lead.
To suggest that Zidane's hesitation and chipped-shot was bold is a ludicrous understatement.
This was the biggest stage possible so taking such a risk is remarkable.
The dice-roll here was worth it, though, as this one of the more memorable penalties in soccer history.
2. Alan Shearer
The Newcastle man is the leading goalscorer in English Premier League history.
His ability from the spot was instrumental in netting a record-setting 260 goals in 434 appearances.
Shearer was not afraid hit for power during his penalty opportunities, sometimes appearing to be attempting to rip the leather off the ball in his pursuit of a goal.
1. Matt Le Tissier
Matt Le Tissier is known among soccer historians as the best ever in terms of penalties in world football history.
The reason being his ridiculous penalty conversion percentage.
During his 16 years at English Premier League side Southhampton, Le Tissier missed just one of his 49 penalty attempts, for just about 98 percent.
Cool as ever, Le Tissier was nicknamed "Le God" by Southhampton fans.
That is indeed an apt nickname, considering these numbers.
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