# The World Cup’s Worst Penalty Takers Might Be Defenders But Why Do They Still Keep Taking Them?

URL: https://technosports.co.in/world-cup-2026-worst-penalty-takers-defenders/  
Published: 2026-07-10  
Updated: 2026-07-10  
Author: Ankush Mallick

Defenders, specifically centre-backs, have missed **penalties** at an alarming rate during the [2026 World Cup](https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026). But has it always been this way? Are defenders genuinely worse penalty takers than everyone else?

## The Moment That Prompted the Question

With Switzerland locked at 2-2 in their last-16 penalty shootout against Colombia and with a kick in hand, centre-back Manuel Akanji stepped forward with the chance to put his side 3-2 ahead.

He paced out a long run-up, took a few deep breaths — and then blazed his effort way over the bar.

![World Cup 2026](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/07/Manuel-Akanji-is-one-of-only-three-players-to-have-missed-a-penalty-in-shoot-outs-at-both-the-UEFA-European-Championships-and-FIFA-World-Cup-1024x576.jpg)
*Manuel Akanji is one of only three players to have missed a penalty in shoot-outs at both the UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cup.*

The Inter defender joined a growing list of centre-backs to have missed **penalties** in shootouts at the **2026 World Cup**.

| Centre-Backs Who Missed Penalties in Shootouts — World Cup 2026 | Player | Team | Miss Type |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lucas Herrington | Australia | Over the bar / crossbar |  |
| Harry Souttar | Australia | Over the bar / crossbar |  |
| Jonathan Tah | Germany | Over the bar / crossbar |  |
| Fabián Balbuena | Paraguay | Over the bar / crossbar |  |
| Davinson Sánchez | Colombia | Hit underside of crossbar — stayed out |  |
| Manuel Akanji | Switzerland | Over the bar |  |

Five of those six — including Akanji — didn’t even need the goalkeeper to make a save. Their attempts either struck the crossbar or went flying over it entirely.

Quite why Akanji remains on penalty duty is a curious question in itself. The former Manchester City defender has taken four **penalties** in major tournament shootouts across the **World Cup** and European Championship and has converted just one. He has now missed each of his last three.

Fortunately for Akanji, his skied spot-kick was not terminal — thanks in no small part to Sánchez, whose own effort three kicks earlier had crashed off the underside of the crossbar and stayed out.

## Are Defenders Actually Good at Taking Penalties?

Unless your centre-back happens to be Sergio Ramos or Fernando Hierro — two centre-halves who were objectively excellent from the spot — it rarely feels like a reassuring sight when a defender walks up to take a penalty. The vibes are not good.

And what we have seen at this **World Cup** largely supports that feeling.

| Centre-Back Penalty Shootout Conversion — World Cup 2026 | Attempts | Scored | Conversion Rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Centre-backs | 11 | 5 | 45.4% |

During shootouts at **World Cup 2026**, centre-backs have the lowest conversion rate of any position at the tournament — scoring just five of their 11 attempts at **45.4%**.

But has it always been this way? It would be understandable if it had, in fairness. Defenders’ primary responsibility, after all, is keeping goals out rather than scoring them.

## The Historical Data: World Cups and European Championships Combined

Looking at all **World Cup** and European Championship penalty shootouts to compare conversion rates by position tells a clear story.

| Penalty Conversion by Position — World Cups and Euros Combined | Position | Scored | Attempts | Conversion Rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Forwards | — | — | 75%+ |  |
| Midfielders | — | — | Mid-range |  |
| Defenders | 110 | 160 | 68.8% |  |
| Goalkeepers | 1 | 1 | 100% |  |

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/07/Major-tournament-Penalty-Shootout-rates-by-position-1024x1024.jpg)

Historically, defenders have converted **penalties** at the lowest rate of any outfield position in major international tournament shootouts. Across **World Cups** and European Championships combined, they have scored **110 of 160 attempts** at a conversion rate of **68.8%** — quite easily the lowest rate of any outfield position. Forwards lead the way, converting more than three-quarters of their **penalties**.

## World Cup vs Euros: A Tale of Two Tournaments

Once the two tournaments are separated, a more nuanced picture emerges.

### World Cup Shootouts Only

| Penalty Conversion by Position — World Cups Only | Position | Conversion Rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forwards | — | 73.2% |
| Midfielders | — | Between forwards and defenders |
| Defenders | — | 62.0% |

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/07/World-Cup-Penalty-Shootout-rates-by-position-1024x1024.jpg)

At **World Cups** specifically, defenders remain the weakest-performing outfield positional group with a conversion rate of **62.0%**, while forwards lead the way at **73.2%**. The overall World Cup shootout conversion rate sits at **68.6%**.

### European Championship Shootouts Only

| Penalty Conversion by Position — Euros Only | Position | Conversion Rate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Defenders | — | 77.9% |
| Forwards | — | 77.8% |
| Overall tournament rate | — | 77.0% |

The Euros data tells a strikingly different story. Firstly, everybody improves — overall conversion rates rise from **68.6% at World Cups** to **77.0% at European Championships**. That jump is significant in itself.

![](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/07/Euros-Penalty-Shootout-rates-by-position-1024x1024.jpg)

But perhaps more surprisingly, defenders come out as the **most successful outfield positional group** at the Euros, albeit by a very slim margin. They convert their spot-kicks at a **77.9%** rate during Euros shootouts — fractionally ahead of forwards at **77.8%**.

## Why the Gap Between World Cup and Euros?

There are no doubt numerous factors behind the differences between **World Cup** and Euros conversion numbers — not just for defenders but across all positions.

| Possible Explanation | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Greater pressure at World Cup | Penalty shootouts on football’s world stage carry unique psychological weight |
| Broader pool of teams | The World Cup features a wider range of nations, potentially diluting overall penalty-taking quality compared to the more concentrated talent at the Euros |
| Tournament format differences | More teams, more varied penalty-taking traditions and preparation standards |

One immediate conclusion is the idea that the **World Cup** represents a unique level of pressure. Penalty shootouts on football’s biggest stage are simply more nerve-racking than any other setting.

Another consideration is that the **World Cup** has traditionally been a larger tournament than the European Championship. A broader pool of teams may naturally introduce a wider range of penalty takers, potentially diluting overall quality compared with the more concentrated talent at the Euros.

## What Should Teams Do About It?

Theories aside, what is very clear from the data is that at **World Cups**, defenders have struggled more than any other position when it comes to scoring in shootouts. The **2026 World Cup** is emphatically following suit.

Following the recent misses from Sánchez and Akanji, it will be interesting to see whether teams rethink their taker lists — potentially asking more attack-minded players to step forward ahead of centre-backs, regardless of where those defenders sit in the natural penalty hierarchy.

Then again, there is always another option: let the goalkeeper take one.

Only one goalkeeper has ever taken a penalty in a men’s **World Cup** or European Championship shootout — and he scored. Against England at Euro 2004, Portugal’s Ricardo famously removed his gloves before saving from Darius Vassell, then stepped up to slot home the winning penalty. That means goalkeepers carry a flawless **100% conversion record** in major international tournament shootouts.

Perhaps somebody should have mentioned that to Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

Read More: [Chaos, Comebacks and Missed Penalties: Welcome to the 2026 World Cup](https://technosports.co.in/chaos-comebacks-missed-penalties-world-cup-2026/)  
Also Read: [How Football’s Greats Are Extending Their World Cup Careers](https://technosports.co.in/football-greats-extending-world-cup-2026-career/)  
Related Article: [Cristiano Ronaldo Leaves the World Cup With Everything Except the Trophy](https://technosports.co.in/cristiano-ronaldo-leaves-world-cup-2026-all/)

## FAQs

### How many centre-backs have missed penalties in shootouts at World Cup 2026?

Six centre-backs have missed penalties in shootouts — Lucas Herrington, Harry Souttar (both Australia), Jonathan Tah (Germany), Fabián Balbuena (Paraguay), Davinson Sánchez (Colombia) and Manuel Akanji (Switzerland). Five of the six didn’t even require a goalkeeper save.

### What is the centre-back penalty conversion rate at World Cup 2026?

Centre-backs have converted just 5 of 11 penalty attempts in shootouts — a conversion rate of 45.4%, the lowest of any position at the tournament.

### What is the historical defender penalty conversion rate at World Cups?

Defenders have converted penalties at a 62.0% rate in World Cup shootouts historically — the lowest of any outfield position, compared to forwards who lead the way at 73.2%.

### Why do defenders perform better at the Euros than at the World Cup?

At European Championships, defenders actually convert at the highest rate of any outfield position (77.9%). The likely explanations include the unique pressure of the World Cup stage and the broader, more varied pool of teams and penalty takers at the World Cup compared to the more concentrated quality at the Euros.

### Has a goalkeeper ever taken and scored a penalty in a major international tournament shootout?

Yes — Portugal’s Ricardo at Euro 2004 against England. He is the only goalkeeper to have taken a penalty in a men’s World Cup or European Championship shootout, and he scored, giving goalkeepers a perfect 100% conversion record.