TOP 10 most famous penalties in football – including tips on how to take and save them
They say it can't be saved, only poorly taken. That's the old saying associated with penalties. But who can take it best? Is there a 'recipe' for a successful penalty kick? And what tricks can help you save a penalty? We'll look at all of this in our article today.
A penalty is often one of the most thrilling moments in football. It often decides the outcome of the match. Before we reminisce about key penalty moments, let's briefly remind ourselves how penalties even come about.
A little warm-up: How do penalties work in football?
When you're getting ready for a penalty kick and a chilled pint doesn't land in front of you, you know it's serious. A penalty is a special football situation that follows a serious rule violation committed by someone on the team near their own goal. Such a violation could be kicking or pushing an opponent, spitting, holding, or deliberately handling the ball. The actual penalty kick looks like this:
- The executor, meaning the player taking the penalty, stands on the spot 11 meters from the goal.
- The goalkeeper moves along the goal line, facing the shooter, trying to catch or deflect the ball.
- Other players must be outside the penalty area and 10 meters away from the executor.
Then the whistle blows, and it's time to go. The player runs up and shoots. As soon as the player touches the ball, the goalkeeper can leave the goal line and other players can enter the penalty area.
Did you know that referees call significantly more penalties towards the end of a match? In the 2nd half, it's 2 times more than in the 1st, and in the last quarter of the match, it's 4 times more than in the opening quarter.
The most common situations in which a penalty can occur
- Defensive error: When there's a serious defensive mistake inside their own penalty area.
- Handball: When a player uses their hand to block the ball inside their own penalty area.
- Foul on a player: When a player in a good scoring position is fouled.
- Penalty shootout: Usually, if there's no clear winner even after extra time, they move to the so-called penalty kicks. The team that scores more goals out of 5 attempts wins.
A guide on how to take the perfect penalty? It exists!
Video analysis shows that the ideal penalty kick is half a meter below the crossbar and half a meter from the post. It doesn't matter if it's on the left or right side. The shooter measures their run-up to 5 to 6 steps, approaches the ball from the edge of the penalty area at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees, and kicks the ball at a speed of at least 104 km/h. Easy peasy, right?
But we've also got a few tips that you can easily apply in practice. Analysis of penalties from World Cups, European Championships, and Champions League matches showed that it pays off to wait a second before taking the kick. Players who started their run within 0.2 seconds after the whistle converted the penalty 57% of the time. Those who started their run-up at least a second later converted the penalty more than 80% of the time.
And if you score and your team has more penalties coming up, go ahead and celebrate. Showing joy after scoring is linked to a lower chance of your opponent scoring their next penalty. You also have a higher chance of winning overall.
The role of the goalkeeper and other team members during a penalty
All players should have the necessary skills, an effective strategy, and control over their emotions. But that's easier said than done. The main role of the goalkeeper is to stop the executor's attempt. They must anticipate the direction and power of the shot, have trained quick movements, and ideally keep track of the statistics and playing style of the given player in their mind. The key role of the executor is to remain calm and composed. They must choose the right direction and technique for the shot to make it harder for the goalkeeper to intervene. Other players can support the executor from outside the penalty area by trying to distract the goalkeeper or looking for an optimal position for further play.
How the goalkeeper made a rod for his own back: The history of penalties in football
During a penalty kick, the scales are tipped in favor of the shooter. So it's surprising that the penalty itself was invented by a goalkeeper. William McCrum, a player for Milford FC and a member of the Irish Football Association, wanted to punish footballers who fouled near their own goal, and so the penalty was included in the official rules on June 2, 1891. Initially, it was taken from anywhere 11 meters away from the goal line, and the goalkeeper could run towards the shooter up to a certain distance. However, over the years, the rules were refined and adjusted until they reached their current form.
Image description: William McCrum's proposal was initially laughed at and rejected. The proposed penalty was even called the 'death penalty.'
The 10 best penalties of all time
And now let's take a moment to reminisce about the most famous shots in football history. We’ll take this more or less chronologically, but there’s no dispute about the first place.
Yes, we admit it. We were a bit influenced by the country of origin. But what’s better than having a penalty style named after you? Panenka became famous for his genius slow chip shot to the center of the goal back in 1976. He surprised German goalkeeper Sepp Maier in the final of the European Championship, securing the title for Czechoslovakia.
85th minute of the match, Germany versus Argentina, tension at its peak. Then, at the officially first championship filmed in HDTV quality, left-back Andreas Brehme scored a penalty, securing the world title for Germany. Germany celebrated their third triumph in the FIFA World Cup.
The winner of the 15th World Cup in football history was also decided by a penalty. In the final shootout against Brazil, Roberto Baggio missed the decisive penalty kick. Brazil thus claimed the title, and Italy had to settle for silver medals. The Italian striker later called this moment the worst of his career.
Yes, we mean that very quarterfinal of the World Cup in France, when the Dutch sharpshooter humiliated the Argentine defense. Dennis Bergkamp toyed with the opposing defender in the last minute of the match and sent the ball straight into the top corner with a deft touch. The Netherlands advanced to the semifinals, where the Dutchman shone again. His penalty decided the victory against Argentina.
In the 2000/01 season, David Beckham recorded the most assists – contributing to a total of 12 goals. He showcased precisely aimed shots in a match that many still call the most famous comeback in football history. During stoppage time of the Champions League final, Manchester United players showed extraordinary determination and turned the score around in less than 2 minutes. Reportedly, ribbons in Bayern's colors were already hanging on the trophy at that time, so the UEFA secretary had to change them in a hurry.
The best players of the 2006 World Cup were Zinédine Zidane, Fabio Cannavaro, and Andrea Pirlo. And it was the first named who confidently scored in the penalty shootout against Italy. Nicely done in the Panenka style. But it was his last match, and he literally dove headfirst into the end of his football career. After a verbal spat, he headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest, resulting in his dismissal from the game.
Sergio Ramos, one of the best football defenders in the world, triumphed in the UEFA Champions League several times. In 2014, he opened the scoring at Bayern Munich's home ground, and Real Madrid won 4-0. Two years later, he scored a key goal in the final match against Atlético Madrid, helping Real Madrid secure the title.
Messi scored a crucial penalty in the shootout against Colombia, helping Argentina advance. However, in the end, his team did not win the title. The final, in which Argentina faced Chile, ended 0-0, so the winner was decided by penalties. In his very first penalty at the stadium in East Rutherford, Lionel Messi missed, and after the match, he announced his retirement from football. Fortunately, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner soon changed his mind.
Even the Champions League final in 2016 was decided by penalty kicks. It featured two rivals from the Spanish capital, and in the end, it was Real Madrid who won the Champions League for the eleventh time. They defeated Atlético Madrid 5-3 on penalties. Ronaldo wanted to take the fifth penalty in a row. "I had this idea that I'd score the winning goal in the penalty shootout," he said. And that's exactly what happened. In the second-to-last round, Juanfran from Atlético hit the post, giving Ronaldo the chance to win the match.
The Helsinki native became famous for his unique penalty style while representing the under-16 national team. His shot included a fabulous backflip. The video of the kick naturally spread throughout the online world, and the young Finn instantly became an internet star.
Some footballers celebrate their goals with a somersault (shoutout to Miroslav Klose), but pulling off a backflip right after taking a penalty requires a great deal of skill.
Who are the best penalty takers?
The ranking of individual footballers naturally changes with the matches played and the penalties scored (or missed). However, Cristiano Ronaldo would definitely be in the rankings with a current success rate of over 83%. Matt Le Tissier boasts an even more impressive figure, currently at 98%. However, he has taken more than two-thirds fewer penalties than the Portuguese superstar. Among the best penalty takers of all time, you would definitely find Zlatan Ibrahimović, Mario Balotelli, Arturo Vidal, Giuseppe Rossi, Marco van Basten, Alan Shearer, Steven Gerrard, or Frank Lampard.
Goalkeeper tip: A few psychological tricks can help you save a penalty.
The foundation, of course, is having quality goalkeeper gloves. Ones that won't get damaged right away and won't lose grip after the first match. Top-notch goalkeeper gloves will not only provide the necessary protection and safety but will also help you achieve better results. If you want gloves fine-tuned to the last detail, go for custom-made gloves. We'll make a pair tailored just for you, so you can save even the trickiest penalties.
Do you have your gear? Great. So when you go to save a penalty, stand about 10 centimeters from the center of the goal. So says at least the advice that comes from scientific research on penalty kicks. A statistically significant number of players tend to aim for the side where there is more space. Moreover, when you raise your arms above your head before the penalty, the shooter will automatically perceive you as taller, and you will slightly increase your chances of a successful save.
Some save penalties, while others hold their heads in disbelief for not betting on BU1 gloves. The article How to choose goalkeeper gloves will help you pick the best ones.
And if you like to have a bit of fun, feel free to tease your opponent a little before the kick. Analysis of penalty kicks from the World Cup and European Championship from 1984 to 2012 shows that when a goalkeeper tries to distract the shooter with their movements, the shots tend to be aimed slightly closer to the center and less often end up in the goal. Just be careful not to end up like Hartford goalkeeper Nenad Cudic, who performed several gymnastic stars in the goal before the penalty. However, his plan backfired. The Stony Brook shooter not only confidently placed the ball in the net but also returned the favor right after scoring – showing the goalkeeper a few impressive stars as well.
