The Portuguese forward is one of the most prolific players in football history yet he has long been dogged by accusations that he relies on penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo was feeling quite rightly pleased with himself after scoring four goals against Malmo on December 9, 2015 to become the first player to ever hit double figures in the Champions League group stage.

Consequently, he was more than happy to speak to the press in the mixed zone after the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, it was there that his mood changed suddenly – and understandably – when he was asked about the idea that too many of his goals are penalties.

It was an utterly bizarre time to pose such a question, given not one of the goals he had scored that evening had come from the spot.

What's more, only two of his 11 strikes in the group stage had been penalties.

So, Ronaldo bristled at the suggestion that his remarkable numbers were somehow misleading.

"You have to look at the statistics," he said sharply. "How many goals have I scored for Real Madrid? And they are not all penalties."

And yet the nickname 'Penaldo' had already become commonly used by his detractors, of which there are still many today.

Ronaldo may have his faults but the idea that he is not one of the greatest and most complete goalscorers the game has ever seen is outrageous.

It seems to stem from the start of his time at Madrid, whom he joined from Manchester United in the summer of 2009.

Certainly, Ronaldo was indulged at the Bernabeu, where he quickly became the focal point of the Blancos' attack.

Gonzalo Higuain had a fine first season playing alongside the Portuguese, netting 29 times in 40 appearances in all competitions, but lost his role as Madrid’s first-choice centre-forward during the 2010-11 campaign to Karim Benzema, who was considered a better foil for Ronaldo because of the Frenchman's work-rate and selflessness.

The Sporting C.P. product had also already been installed as Madrid's penalty-taker and given first option on every single free-kick within shooting distance, while Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria were brought in after the World Cup in South Africa to provide Ronaldo with more through balls and crosses, respectively.

Ronaldo's numbers, therefore, exploded during his second year in Spain, with Madrid essentially set up to play to his strengths.

Not once between 2010 and 2015 did he fail to register fewer than 50 goals a season.

And yet all the while he was dogged by allegations that he was overly reliant on penalties, perhaps perpetuated by his rather over-zealous reaction to scoring a pretty inconsequential one in the dying seconds of Real's 4-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.

There's no denying that Ronaldo's impressive figures over the past decade have been boosted by spot-kicks.

He has both taken (107) and converted (93) more penalties in all club competitions since the start of the 2009-10 season than any other player.

However, it is worth noting that Lionel Messi sits second on both lists (64 from 82) and is never slated for allegedly being a 'one-trick pony'.

If anything, the Barcelona captain is sometimes criticised for squandering spot-kicks, so quite why Ronaldo should be berated for making the most of his (he has a conversion rate of 87 per cent) is anyone's guess. Indeed, Ronaldo would be many neutrals' first pick to take a clutch spot-kick for their side in any shootout.

In addition, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored a colossal 503 goals over the past 11 years – and only 18 per cent of them are penalties.

Admittedly, that is a far higher ratio than that of his great rival Messi – only 12% of the Argentine’s 545 goals for Barcelona during the same period have come from the spot.

Again, though, it feels like Ronaldo is a victim of not only a certain degree of snobbery when it comes to evaluating the worth of his goals but also double standards, especially given the fact that a fifth of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 267 goals since the 2008-09 season have been penalties.

The Swedish striker certainly doesn’t have to put up with claims that he would not be as prolific without penalties. Ibrahimovic remains widely renowned as both a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals.

As Ronaldo should be too. We are talking about Real Madrid's all-time record goalscorer and a man who recently equalled the Serie A record for goals in consecutive games (11) with Juventus.

His game may have changed through years – it would have been impossible for him to still be operating as a fleet-footed winger at the highest level at the age of 35 had he not focused his attention on scoring goals – and he is undeniably a polarising figure.

For example, he is also widely thought to be a selfish forward and yet he ranks joint-sixth for assists in all competitions since 2009-10 – level with Cesc Fabregas but above playmakers such as David Silva (131), Kevin De Bruyne (127) and Eden Hazard (121).

Of course, football fans are free to dislike a footballer all they want. But the ‘Penaldo’ nickname is as petty as it is inaccurate.

Anyone who thinks any different need only “look at the statistics”.


https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/mythbuster-penaldo-are-most-of-cristianos-goals-spot-kicks/180ng8nf4dnis1v67fxu87qwcl

He's called penaldo not because he scored many of them but because he will disappear in a game without any contribution then he will score a penalty that increase his stats.

His deluded fan base will start shouting that he's the best

Astark:
He's called penaldo not because he scored many of them but because he will disappear in a game without any contribution then he will score a penalty that increase his stats.

His deluded fan base will start shouting that he's the best

did u read this content from top to bottom or just the headline,

I will advise, u calm down this time around, wash ur face with warm water, read through again and again and appreciate the footballer for what he has done to the game of football

Astark:
He's called penaldo not because he scored many of them but because he will disappear in a game without any contribution then he will score a penalty that increase his stats.

His deluded fan base will start shouting that he's the best

So in your warped mind, Ronaldo contributes nothing on the football pitch??

l love this piece.The writer is clearly a Penaldo fan or making a case for him but what is written every were in his article is that there is one man better.MESSI more goals,less penalty and still more assist.
so may penaldo fans now end the GOAT debate

gibzzhd:
l love this piece.The writer is clearly a Penaldo fan or making a case for him but what is written every were in his article is that there is one man better.MESSI more goals,less penalty and still more assist.
so may penaldo fans now end the GOAT debate

How and where does Messi have more goals than Ronaldo??

Jokerman:


So in your warped mind, Ronaldo contributes nothing on the football pitch??

that is the fact

Astark:
that is the fact

So why do coaches keep using him then??

Jokerman:


So why do coaches keep using him then??

why does coach keep using lingard?

he is one of the best footballers ever but comparing him to messi is insulting

Astark:
why does coach keep using lingard?

he is one of the best footballers ever but comparing him to messi is insulting

Get a Grip.

Astark:
why does coach keep using lingard?

he is one of the best footballers ever but comparing him to messi is insulting

Is Messi not one of the best footballers ever??

What can Messi do that Ronaldo can't??

Astark:
that is the fact

Messi should win an international trophy with Argentina first,

Jokerman:


How and where does Messi have more goals than Ronaldo??

In addition, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored a colossal 503 goals over the past 11 years – and only 18 per cent of them are penalties.
Admittedly, that is a far higher ratio than that of his great rival Messi – only 12% of the Argentine’s 545 goals for Barcelona during the same period have come from the spot.

Did you skip this?

gibzzhd:

In addition, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored a colossal 503 goals over the past 11 years – and only 18 per cent of them are penalties.
Admittedly, that is a far higher ratio than that of his great rival Messi – only 12% of the Argentine’s 545 goals for Barcelona during the same period have come from the spot.

Did you skip this?

Why did you type Messi has more goals than Ronaldo??

gibzzhd:

In addition, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored a colossal 503 goals over the past 11 years – and only 18 per cent of them are penalties.
Admittedly, that is a far higher ratio than that of his great rival Messi – only 12% of the Argentine’s 545 goals for Barcelona during the same period have come from the spot.

Did you skip this?

It is higher because Messi has a higher ratio of Penalty Misses than Cristiano.

manuel4real:
Messi should win an international trophy with Argentina first,

Ronaldo should win Olympic with Portugal first

Jokerman:


Why did you type Messi has more goals than Ronaldo??

you no dey see 503 for Ronaldo and 546 for Messi in the period under review by the writer?

gibzzhd:


you no dey see 503 for Ronaldo and 546 for Messi in the period under review by the writer?

I thought you wrote most career goals coz we know clearly Ronaldo has more goals than Messi

Do you know Ronaldo has more freekicks goals in UEFA competition than any other player?

Do you know Ronaldo is the highest assist maker in UCL history too??

Astark:
Ronaldo should win Olympic with Portugal first

UNL > Olympic

Don't worry Messi would soon win Copa so that youna body go rest

Jokerman:


UNL > Olympic

Don't worry Messi would soon win Copa so that youna body go rest

the south America version of unl, Messi has won thrice of that.

Olympic is a world wide completion, just like world cup they are recognize by FIFA unlike euro that is continental.

Just because champions league cup is more popular and richer than FIFA club work cup doesn't make ucl bigger in real sense

Jokerman:


I thought you wrote most career goals coz we know clearly Ronaldo has more goals than Messi

Do you know Ronaldo has more freekicks goals in UEFA competition than any other player?

Do you know Ronaldo is the highest assist maker in UCL history too??

Messi has more club goals than Ronaldo despite Ronaldo playing 2 years in club before him

gibzzhd:


Messi has more club goals than Ronaldo despite Ronaldo playing 2 years in club before him

Country goals nko??

Jokerman:


Country goals nko??

Ronaldo has more games and of cos most of his goal are in qualifiers vs Andorra and the likes.
Messi qualifiers are against Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela,Peru.
Be honest Ronaldo would struggle to score in South America qualifiers

gibzzhd:


Ronaldo has more games and of cos most of his goal are in qualifiers vs Andorra and the likes.
Messi qualifiers are against Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela,Peru.
Be honest Ronaldo would struggle to score in South America qualifiers

Just as he struggled to score in UCL abi??

Jokerman:

Just as he struggled to score in UCL abi??

Now can he get 4 goals against man u? but he can get that against Lithuania. you see the difference?