Wayne Rooney did not make a show of a penalty. He put the ball down, picked a corner and hit it. That was more or less the entire method, and for over a decade it was good enough to make him Manchester United's go-to man from 12 yards.
He scored over 40 penalties across his career for United and England, with a conversion rate of approximately 80%. The kicks came in World Cup qualifiers, Champions League knockout ties and Premier League games that decided titles. Several of the 53 goals that made him England's all-time top scorer came from the spot.
Power and placement, no fuss
Rooney mixed the two well. He struck hard enough that a goalkeeper had little time, and placed it well enough that guessing right often did not help. He did not wait for the keeper to move and he did not bother with tricks.
Some penalty takers on this list are remembered for one audacious kick. Rooney is remembered for turning up, scoring, and doing it again the following week. For United's record scorer, the penalty was just part of the job, and he treated it that way.
Tomorrow's pick is number 18.
