​Why is Cristiano Ronaldo nicknamed “Penaldo”? How some fans throw shade at Portugal’s star for penalty kicks originally appeared on The Sporting News. The Sporting News is listed as a Preferred Source by clicking here. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo has faced substantial criticism as Portugal labored to reach the knockout rounds. Although no longer the undisputed elite he once was, Selecao manager Roberto Martinez has persisted with the veteran in the attack. That faith paid off against Croatia, where Ronaldo delivered a second-half penalty to level the match at 1-1. The Sporting News explains how Ronaldo’s penalty prowess has both bolstered his long and storied career and provided critics with ammunition to take aim at him.
Why do fans call Cristiano Ronaldo “Penaldo” on social media? Those who seek to minimize Ronaldo’s remarkable career have coined the nickname “Penaldo,” a pun on his surname that mocks his reputed reliance on penalties, suggesting he pads his goal tally by drawing and converting spot-kicks. While penalties are still a demanding and high-pressure skill, they are not regarded as equal to scoring from open play. As one of football’s all-time great scorers, some detractors argue that Ronaldo’s achievements are inflated by a large number of penalties, labeling him a “penalty merchant” who inflated his influence on games.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty record: After scoring his spot-kick against Croatia, Ronaldo had tallied 184 penalties in his club-and-country career, with an 83.6% conversion rate (184 scored of 220 attempts). Of these, 164 came at club level and 22 for Portugal. When compared with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo has converted almost twice as many penalties (Ronaldo 184 vs. Messi 114). Interestingly, Messi has converted more penalties for his national team, with 25 penalties for Argentina.