Mbappe, Bellingham, or Vinicius – Stats reveal who should be Real Madrid’s penalty taker | OneFootball

It is no secret that Real Madrid are facing a challenge when it comes to penalties, and recent misses have caused frustration within the team.

The failures of key players like Jude Bellingham in Valencia and Kylian Mbappe in both Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao have left manager Carlo Ancelotti visibly upset.

He even expressed his dissatisfaction with these missed opportunities, noting that they wasted three valuable chances. Ancelotti took responsibility for the decisions on who takes the penalties, acknowledging that a change was needed.

It seems that the days of players deciding who takes the spot-kick based on their own confidence levels are coming to an end and going forward, there will be a clear, designated penalty taker.

Until now, the responsibility of taking penalties has been shared among the team’s top players, with Vinicius, Mbappe, and Bellingham rotating the task.

However, the coach’s recent comments suggest that this approach may soon be a thing of the past. Ancelotti is frustrated by the lack of consistency and seems to be signalling that a more structured system will be put in place.

What does the stats say?

Kylian Mbappe has missed penalties in crucial matches. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Looking at the penalty statistics for the 2024-2025 season, Vinicius stands out with a perfect record.

The Brazilian forward has converted every penalty he has taken so far, including successful attempts against teams like Las Palmas, Real Sociedad, AC Milan, and Pachuca.

In contrast, Mbappe has missed twice in key matches, failing to score against Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao. Despite this, he has successfully converted penalties in games against Real Betis, Real Sociedad, and Espanyol.

Bellingham, on the other hand, has scored once against Getafe but missed his attempt at Mestalla against Valencia, hitting the post. That miss could have been repeated, but luck was not on his side.

Everything favours Vinicius

Vinicius’ flawless record makes him the most reliable option for the role of the designated penalty taker. His 100% success rate, with no penalty missed since joining Real Madrid, is impressive.

Vinicius Jr. has a 100% success record. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Not only does he have a perfect record this season, but he has also been the standout performer in the last few years. His consistency in converting penalties has made him the most trusted player in this regard.

At the beginning of the season, Ancelotti aimed to avoid controversy by allowing Vinicius and Mbappe to take penalties based on their individual confidence levels.

Mbappe has had more opportunities, taking five penalties, while Vinicius has taken four. However, their results have been mixed. Mbappe’s misses in high-pressure matches.

On the other hand, Vinicius has been flawless, converting every penalty he has taken, regardless of the pressure.

Vinicius has history to support

This dynamic isn’t new. Even last season, when Vinicius and Joselu shared penalty duties, Vinicius maintained his impressive record.

Vinicius Jr. must take the penalties going forward. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

During the 2023/24 season, he scored every penalty he took, including three in high-stakes situations. These included two crucial penalties against Barcelona and one in the Champions League semi-finals in Munich.

His ability to stay calm under pressure and convert from the spot has cemented his reputation as a reliable penalty taker for the team.

As we move forward, Real Madrid are likely to make Vinicius their primary penalty taker, given his flawless performance and the inconsistencies shown by other players.

Ancelotti’s shift in approach will likely ensure that the team doesn’t squander any more opportunities from the penalty spot.

With a clear, designated penalty taker in place, Real Madrid hope to avoid further frustration and ensure that they convert these chances into valuable goals for the team.