It's a surprising statistic. So far in the Ligue 1 2025-2026 season, nearly one in two penalty shots will end in failure, 41.7%, or 10 missed penalties out of 24 attempts. The previous season, this rate was only 18.4%. A spectacular increase that raises questions about the underlying motivations of a practice that professionals have seemingly mastered. "Goalkeeper performance, psychological pressure, lack of preparation, or luck?" For Jean-Marie David, a striker coach who notably worked for FC Lorient (2020-2024), "a clear strategy builds confidence, reduces uncertainty, and increases the chances of scoring, because even Erling Haaland admitted he was nervous before taking a penalty." For the specialist, a successful penalty shot is "rarely the work of a single player: it results from a team organization in which the staff must designate a clear hierarchy, recreate the pressure of a match in training, and analyse the opposing goalkeepers." The penalty taker's teammates also play a subtle but essential role in protecting him within his own space and supporting him. And on the taker's side? "He must develop a precise routine (breathing, direction, setup) and repeat the exercise to automate it, whilst also study the opposing goalkeepers. Lucidity must be paramount: knowing how to shoot... but also recognizing when to give up his spot."
Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé is one of many players to have missed a penalty this season in Ligue 1, during the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers (1-0) / ©Icon Sport