The 2026 FIFA World Cup witnessed an unprecedented struggle from the penalty spot, with some of the game’s biggest stars failing to convert from 12 yards as the tournament recorded one of the lowest penalty conversion rates in World Cup history.
Several high-profile forwards, renowned for their composure in front of goal, missed crucial penalties during the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, sparking renewed debate over the effectiveness of the increasingly popular stutter run-up technique.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi endured a difficult campaign from the spot, becoming the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup tournament.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner saw his first effort saved during Argentina’s group-stage encounter against Austria before missing another penalty in the Round of 16 clash with Egypt.
France captain Kylian Mbappé also joined the list of notable misses after his penalty was brilliantly saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in their quarterfinal encounter at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The save proved pivotal as Morocco progressed to the semifinals.
England skipper Harry Kane was another star to falter from the spot. The Bayern Munich striker missed his initial penalty against Croatia in the group stage after employing a stutter-step run-up.
However, he was given a second opportunity after the goalkeeper was adjudged to have moved off his line early, and Kane made no mistake with the retaken kick.
The tournament’s unusually low penalty conversion rate has prompted discussions among coaches, analysts and former players, with many questioning whether the stuttered approach is becoming less effective as goalkeepers increasingly study penalty-taking patterns and refine their anticipation.
