Shola Ameobi or Obafemi Martins: Which ex-Super Eagles star never missed a penalty for Newcastle United?

Former Super Eagles striker Shola Ameobi may not be the most prolific goal scorer in Newcastle’s history, but when it came to penalty kicks, he never missed.

Ameobi, who spent 14 years at St. James’ Park, with 53 goals in 315 appearances, ranks among an elite group of players in Newcastle’s history to maintain a 100% penalty conversion rate.

He scored all five of his spot-kick attempts for the Magpies, which cemented his place as a reliable figure from 12 yards.

Where Ameobi and Martins Stand in Newcastle’s Penalty-Taking Chart

While Newcastle’s all-time top scorer, Alan Shearer, leads the club’s penalty records with 40 attempts and 36 goals (90% success rate), only a handful of players boast a perfect record—Ameobi included.

The others on this exclusive list are Peter Beardsley (14/14), Callum Wilson (11/11), Nolberto Solano (6/6), Joey Barton (4/4), Michael Owen (3/3), and Hatem Ben Arfa (3/3).

Among Nigerian players to have featured for the Magpies, only Ameobi and Obafemi Martins have stepped up to take penalties.

However, while Martins scored two of his three attempts (66.7%), it is Ameobi who remained spotless from the spot.

How Nigerian-born Ameobi Played for Nigeria and England

Ameobi was born in Zaria, Nigeria, but moved to England with his family at a very young age. Due to FIFA rules, which state that a player can play for a country’s national team after staying in that country for a certain period, Ameobi featured for England’s youth team and earned 20 caps, scoring seven goals.

In 2012, Ameobi received a call-up to don the colours of the Super Eagles—as his birth country—under the management of Stephen Keshi.