In football history, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier is widely regarded as the greatest penalty taker of all time. Between 1986 and 2002, he took 48 penalties throughout his career, astonishingly converting 47 of them. However, for contemporary superstar Kylian Mbappé, this mere distance of 11 meters is gradually morphing into psychological torture.
The Penalty Shadow Behind the First Defeat
In last Friday's clash against Real Betis, Real Madrid trailed by a goal as the match entered stoppage time. Standing over the penalty spot, Mbappé had the opportunity to equalize for Los Blancos, but his strike was kept out by opposing goalkeeper Álvaro Valles. Real Madrid ultimately fell to a 0-1 defeat, suffering their first loss of the campaign.
This is by no means the first time Mbappé has faltered at a critical juncture. Statistical records show that throughout his career (excluding shootouts), Mbappé has taken 81 penalties, missing 16 of them—a failure rate as high as 20%. Since joining Real Madrid, that figure has even climbed to 21% (failing to score 5 out of 24 attempts). In contrast, Real Madrid's former stalwarts proved far more reliable: Cristiano Ronaldo registered a failure rate of just 14% from the spot during his time with Los Blancos, while Sergio Ramos boasted an astonishing record of missing only once in 23 attempts, yielding a failure rate of a mere 4%.
Interestingly, fellow global icon Lionel Messi's penalty record is not entirely stellar either, having converted 114 out of 148 penalties for a success rate of 77%, which sits marginally below Mbappé's career conversion rate.
Expert Analysis: Why Do Players Miss?
Mental health and sports psychology specialists argue that a penalty kick is far more than a contest of technique—it is a mental battle of wills.
Dr. Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga, a psychiatry and psychology specialist from Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona, explains: “Missing a penalty is often a manifestation of the body's 'threat defense system' being triggered. Driven by an intense fear of failure, the player's subconscious seeks to escape this high-pressure state as quickly as possible, leading to biomechanical breakdowns in their execution. Covering the face, collapsing to the turf, or averting one's gaze after a miss are textbook psychological responses to overwhelming emotional frustration.”
Dr. Antonio Peláez from the CADAPA Center in Madrid adds: “The pressure on the penalty taker stems from multiple fronts. If a player has recent memories of missing from the spot, that negative recollection severely impairs their focus. They become trapped in cycles of second-guessing—'What if I miss again?' or 'What if the goalkeeper guesses the right way?' Under such immense psychological strain, a player's experience and mental composure outweigh pure technical ability.”
The emotional weight of a penalty shootout can even ripple across an entire nation. Studies show that on the day England was eliminated via a penalty shootout at the 1998 World Cup, hospital admissions for myocardial infarction in the UK spiked by 25%. This colossal societal gaze ultimately falls squarely upon the lone individual standing over the twelve-yard spot.
Technique Is Intact, Mindset Is the Key
Technically speaking, Mbappé's run-up and striking power remain exceptional. Yet the fundamental obstacles he confronts are extensive tactical analysis by opponents and psychological baggage. Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Valles admitted post-match that he had meticulously analyzed Mbappé's penalty habits, noting that the save was far from mere luck. As Real Madrid's marquee talisman, Mbappé bears an outsized emotional burden during decisive moments.
Nonetheless, manager José Mourinho continues to place unwavering faith in Mbappé. Within the current squad, Vinícius Júnior holds a conversion rate under 70%, while Jude Bellingham lacks extensive experience as a regular penalty taker.
For Mbappé, the solution may lie in returning to simplicity. As legendary penalty taker Matt Le Tissier famously observed: “I never overcomplicated things: pick a corner quickly, and hit it as hard as you can with the inside of your foot.”
