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Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring a penalty against Norwich City. Carrow Road, December 2021.

Comparing Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty records

Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo are both incredible penalty-takers – but which Manchester United player has the better record from the spot?

Many assumed that Ronaldo would take over spot-kick duties over his Portuguese compatriot Fernandes, but that didn’t prove to be the case when Mike Dean awarded United their first penalty of the season.

With both players on the pitch when United were given a golden opportunity to equalise against Aston Villa, Fernandes had the responsibility.

But he skied his effort over the bar and Ronaldo has since taken their penalties against Arsenal and Norwich City, finding the back of the net on both occasions.

It was assumed that Ronaldo had become the club’s first-choice penalty taker once again, but the debate came into focus once again when Fernandes stepped up ahead of his compatriot and missed in United’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

“I spoke with him after the game and asked him,” Ralf Rangnick said of Ronaldo’s decision not to take the penalty, “and he said he just didn’t feel he should take it and that’s why he said it would be better if Bruno took it.”

We’ve compared the penalty records of both players to determine who United should select to take their spot-kicks.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Club penalties taken: 150
Club penalties scored: 127
Success rate: 84.6%

International penalties taken: 22
International penalties scored: 16
Success rate: 72.7%

Total penalties taken: 172
Total penalties scored: 143
Total success rate: 83.1%

Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United

READ: Seven records Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to break at Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes

Club penalties taken: 44
Club penalties scored: 39
Success rate: 88.6%

International penalties taken: 3
International penalties scored: 3
Success rate: 100%

Total penalties taken: 47
Total penalties scored: 42
Total success rate: 89.3%


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