The 25 best penalty takers of all time

Some players just have a knack for penalties.

Technical skill is, of course, pretty important when it comes to spot-kicks, but even some of the greatest technicians in world football are not particularly efficient from 12 yards. After all, many of the best penalty-takers of all time are not prolific in open play.

A mixture of practice, quality and a clear and confident mindset set specialists apart from the average penalty-taker and there are plenty of players you would bet your life on when they place the ball on that penalty spot. For some, it just comes naturally.

Taking a closer look at some of those who have mastered their craft both past and present, here are 25 of the greatest penalty-takers the world has ever seen.

It's hardly surprising that Eric Cantona had the ice-cold confidence of a brilliant penalty-taker, with few situations unnerving the French forward.

He was particularly relentless from the spot for Manchester United, scoring 18 of his 24 career penalties with the Red Devils.

Despite being so young, Erling Haaland has already taken a ludicrous amount of penalties over the course of his career.

He's netted 38 of 43 he has taken and is sure to get plenty more opportunities to add to his tally in the seasons to come.

There are few things James Milner hasn't been asked to do on a football pitch since his debut in the early 2000s, including taking some high-pressure spot-kicks.

He may not have taken as many as you may think, but he has scored 28 and missed only four of his penalties.

Some full-backs have a knack for spot kicks and former Everton defender Leighton Baines was certainly one of them.

Baines was brilliant from dead-ball situations, notably free kicks, and he bagged an impressive 26 of 29