In the new season, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé will take on the responsibility of being the club’s top penalty taker. The French striker is also regarded by manager Alonso as the best candidate for the role within the team.
Last season, Real Madrid was one of the teams with the most penalties awarded in Europe’s top five leagues, with Los Blancos receiving 19 penalties. However, their penalty conversion rate was among the lowest—they missed 8 out of 19 penalties, with players such as Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham, and Valverde all having missed penalties at some point.
In the first half of last season, Mbappé missed two consecutive penalties against strong opponents Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao, a performance that drew widespread criticism. In the second leg of the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid, Mbappé gave away the penalty he had won. Unfortunately, Vinícius, who took on the responsibility, missed that crucial spot-kick.
Real Madrid’s penalty struggles have long been a persistent issue plaguing the team. Last season, their penalty miss rate reached 36.84%, and in the 2023/24 season, this figure climbed to a staggering 44.44% (the club was awarded 9 penalties that season but only converted 4).
Real Madrid’s decision to appoint Mbappé as the primary penalty taker is of great significance. On one hand, it fully highlights his core status in Real Madrid’s offensive setup. Since joining Real Madrid last season, Mbappé scored 44 goals in all competitions, claiming both the European Golden Shoe and La Liga Golden Boot. On the other hand, it reflects the team’s trust in his penalty-taking ability. Throughout his career, Mbappé has taken 63 penalties, successfully converting 50 and missing 13, boasting a high conversion rate of 79.3%. Specifically, he missed 3 penalties at Real Madrid, 8 during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, and 2 with the French national team.
In contrast, Vinícius’ penalty statistics are far less impressive. He has taken 12 penalties in total, converting 8 for a conversion rate of just 66%. When Karim Benzema left Real Madrid two years ago, Vinícius briefly became the team’s penalty taker, but last season he missed two crucial penalties.
