Penalty kicks: a simple yet complex form of consequence when a football player is fouled in the opposition’s box. Penalty kicks can change the course of games, determining who goes home victorious and smiling or empty-handed and disappointed. Love them or hate them, you cannot deny that penalty kicks are a significant part of football. Let’s take a look at some of the sport’s best penalty takers (and their techniques) that you can use the next time you are on the field.
Ivan Toney (2012 – present)
Toney is widely regarded as one of the most proficient penalty takers in the world. His seemingly unusual technique in front of the goal is the product of his sheer nerve and self-confidence.
As Toney prepares to take his spot kick, he takes a deep breath, gathering himself. He takes three small steps back and, as the referee blows the whistle, pauses for a short while to focus on the keeper. Then, he strides towards the ball and strikes it with his right foot, never breaking eye contact with the goalkeeper.
This makes the keeper react first, which then allows Toney to calmly and confidently slot the ball into the opposite side of the net; and even if the keeper does not react, he can still pick a corner to shoot in.
This tactic is known as the goalkeeper-dependent technique, where a player waits until the keeper commits and then shoots the ball in the opposite corner.
Another crucial part of Toney’s penalty kick is the eye contact with the goalie. Many keepers have confessed that eye contact with a player unnerves them, causing them to make errors or dive earlier than they intended to.
Overall, Toney has remarkably converted 30 penalty kicks out of 32 chances in his illustrious 12-year-long career, averaging a 93.8% conversion rate
Erling Haaland (2017 – present)
Haaland is likely one of the most influential and talented players in modern football. Best known for his speed, physicality, and finishing, his penalty kick style directly reflects his strengths on the field.
Before the penalty, Haaland is often seen taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. Once the whistle blows, never taking his eyes off the ball, he then speedily runs and smashes the ball past the keeper. His kick is extremely powerful that most keepers are unable to intercept his shots, even when they dive correctly. Haaland prefers to place his ball in the bottom corners of the goal, where keepers are known to have the lowest chance of saving the shot.
So far in his career, he has scored a total of 46 penalties out of 51 total, and averaged an impressive 90.2% conversion rate, proving that simplicity can be just as effective.
Jorginho (2010 – present)
While other players mainly focus on power or speed, Jorginho has completely different attributes. An extremely versatile player, his unique penalty technique is often a nightmare for goalkeepers, and can even be humiliating.
As the referee blows the whistle, he jogs up to the ball, hops with his right foot, lands with his left planting foot, then sweeps the ball home with his right—all while watching the keeper for clues as to where he will dive. Many keepers dive too early or too late, as the hop throws off their momentum and timing, allowing Jorginho to score the ball into the free net.
Despite its mesmerizing flair, there are some possible flaws in his iconic penalty kick technique, such as keepers memorizing his timing. For instance, goalie Yann Commer famously managed to deny Jorghino’s penalty attempts twice in the 2020 European championship.
However, Jorghino has been consistent throughout his career, scoring 42 out of 50 penalties and averaging an 84.0% conversion rate.
From Toney’s bold mentality, Haaland’s powerful technique, and Jorginho’s elegant style, there are several effective ways to take penalties. It is important to remember that the art of taking a great penalty kick lies not only in physical capabilities, but in psychological tactics as well. Now, the next time you find yourself fouled inside the box, use one of these techniques to bring home the win for your team!
