With several star players in its squad, Real Madrid is searching but has yet to establish a designated penalty taker. Among Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham, Carlo Ancelotti must select one standout player to take charge of this challenging task. In the meantime, here’s a look at who performs best in penalties, with statistics to back it up.
Real Madrid is having a reasonably good season so far. Despite painful defeats in October and November, the 2024-2025 season is far from poor, especially compared to rivals like FC Barcelona, who started strongly but have surprisingly regressed—similar to clubs like Manchester City in the Premier League and others. With eyes set on the new year, when the race for trophies intensifies, Carlo Ancelotti needs to resolve a few critical issues. One of them is deciding who will take penalties, a role currently shared by Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior.
Ancelotti’s concerns
While statistics indicate that three out of four penalties are typically converted—a 75% success rate—this trend has been reversed at Real Madrid, where three of the team’s last four penalties have been missed, amounting to a mere 25% success rate. After Kylian Mbappé missed two penalties earlier this season in his Madrid debut, Jude Bellingham also failed from the spot last Friday. Despite the presence of Vinicius Junior, another designated penalty taker, the English midfielder took the ball against Valencia.
Even with a slight hop to ensure precise placement, the shot was denied by the right post. Speaking at a post-match press conference after the 2-1 victory, secured by Bellingham’s decisive goal, Carlo Ancelotti did not hide his disappointment. Concerned about missed opportunities from the spot, the Italian coach declared he would take responsibility for choosing a single penalty taker. “It bothers me that we’ve missed three penalties. I think I need to take responsibility for deciding who will take them,” he told the media in Valencia.
Mbappé, Vinicius, Bellingham: Penalty success rates
To help the Madrid coach make his decision, we analysed who among Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham has the best penalty record. At 26 years old, the French forward, who played a pivotal role at Paris Saint-Germain, has taken the most penalties in his career—54 in total. Of these, KM9 has converted 45, achieving a success rate of 79%. While this is a solid figure, it is slightly lower than the other designated penalty takers at Real Madrid.
Vinicius Junior, who has recently taken on penalty responsibilities, boasts an 80% success rate. According to AS, the Brazilian star has converted 8 out of 10 penalties in his career for club and country, also achieving an 80% success rate. Based on these numbers, one might conclude that Vinicius and Bellingham outperform Kylian Mbappé, although this would be an overstatement.
Is Mbappé ultimately number one ahead of Vinicius?
Having already proven himself in high-pressure situations, such as during the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé is arguably the player who should take on the role of Real Madrid’s primary penalty taker. This would mirror the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era when Karim Benzema assumed this responsibility. While Ancelotti initially allowed Vinicius Junior and the French captain to share the role, occasionally including Bellingham, it is now time for a definitive decision.
As a skilled manager of team dynamics, the Italian coach initially sought to avoid ego clashes by granting flexibility to his stars in penalty situations. However, it is now evident that Jude Bellingham will step aside, leaving the decision between Vinicius Junior and KM9, who were initially intended to alternate. Although Rodrygo Goes is also an adept penalty taker, it is unlikely he will be chosen as the primary taker over the team’s star players.
In any case, it’s clear that Vinicius Junior, Mbappé, and Jude are excellent penalty takers. However, if experience in this role is the determining factor, the French number 9 stands out as the best in this area. With his restored confidence, it may be time to stop alternating and entrust him fully with this critical responsibility. We now await Carlo Ancelotti’s final decision.
Who do you think should be Real Madrid’s number one penalty taker?
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