Shocking stats reveal why Vinicius should not be Real Madrid’s penalty taker | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s dominant 4-0 victory over Valencia was filled with moments of brilliance, but one incident sparked widespread debate among fans, which was Vinicius Jr’s missed penalty. 

Despite an overall convincing performance, the Brazilian forward’s failed spot kick has once again brought his penalty-taking abilities under scrutiny.

Although Kylian Mbappe is the designated penalty taker for Real Madrid, he decided to hand the opportunity to Vinicius after scoring earlier in the game. 

It seemed like a gesture of confidence from the Frenchman, but it ultimately backfired when Vinicius saw his effort saved, missing out on an easy scoring chance. 

The miss left manager Xabi Alonso visibly frustrated on the sidelines.

Numbers behind Vinicius’ miss

Reports in Spain suggest that Alonso was annoyed not only because Mbappe didn’t take the penalty, but also because Vinicius failed to convert. 

According to MARCA, this is not an isolated case as the Brazilian’s record from the spot has been far from impressive and is now raising concerns within the Real Madrid coaching staff.

“Vinicius misses 35.71% of the penalties he takes. In his career, he has taken 14, scored 9, and missed 5. 

Vinicius Jr. missed a penalty against Valencia. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

“But the worst thing is that in 2025, he has taken four and missed three,” the report highlights

In stark contrast, Mbappe’s track record paints a completely different picture. 

As MARCA further pointed out, “He has taken 71 penalties, scored 57, and missed 14. He scores 80%.”

That comparison leaves little room for debate. As one source from the outlet put it, 

“If you have one player who scores eight out of ten and another who misses one out of three, there’s no debate. Mbappe should be the taker.”

While Vinicius continues to evolve into one of Real Madrid’s most influential attackers, this latest episode has raised questions about whether he should be entrusted with penalty duties in the future. 

For Alonso, the choice moving forward seems quite clear that Mbappe should and must remain the undisputed penalty specialist.