Kylian Mbappe stood over the ball, waited more than three minutes, stuttered in his run-up, and watched his tame penalty get saved by Morocco's Yassine Bounou. It was just one miss, but it fits a striking trend: at the 2026 World Cup, stutter penalties have become the riskiest way to take a spot-kick.
A stutter penalty is when a player hesitates or feints during their run-up, trying to make the goalkeeper commit early and then slotting the ball the other way. Under Fifa rules, you can stop or feint during the run-up, but not directly before kicking the ball. It's not new – Pele, Hugo Sanchez and John Aldridge all used it – but modern goalkeepers are bigger, more athletic, and have begun to read the technique better.
“Why stutter penalties are missing more often at the World Cup, with stats and expert analysis.”
At this World Cup, the numbers tell a clear story. Of the 26 stutter penalties taken (including shootouts), only 15 were scored – a conversion rate of just 57%. In contrast, 24 of 35 non-stutter penalties have been scored, a 68% success rate. Overall, 30% of non-shootout penalties have been missed this tournament, the second-highest rate since records began in 1966. When shootouts are included, the miss rate rises to 35%, the highest on record.
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin explained on BBC Radio 5 Live: "There is an arms race going on. It is definitely harder to score a penalty now. The reason being, the goalkeepers are bigger now, more athletic." And former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said on ITV: "This stuttering penalty seems to be the one. The goalkeepers seem to have got a march on it now."
For UK fans, this matters because the stutter is common in the Premier League and international football. Players like Harry Kane, Bruno Guimaraes and Jorgen Strand Larsen have all missed stutter penalties recently. Even Lionel Messi has failed from the spot with a stuttered approach. The technique can work – Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Kai Havertz have scored using it at this World Cup – but the risk is growing.
The delay before Mbappe's penalty also sparked debate. Erling Haaland posted on Snapchat that waiting "5 min to take a penalty is too long", while Roy Keane called it "unfair" because "time is the enemy for a striker". VAR checks can add minutes, giving goalkeepers an advantage. With the miss rate rising, players may soon reconsider the stutter.
Q: Why are stutter penalties more likely to miss? Because goalkeepers have learned to hold their ground rather than dive early, forcing the taker to place the ball without a clear path. The extra hesitation also allows the keeper to read the striker's intentions.
Q: Are stutter penalties against the rules? No, as long as the player does not feint directly before striking the ball. Fifa rules permit stopping or feinting during the run-up, but the final kick must be continuous.
Q: Who has missed stutter penalties at this World Cup? Kylian Mbappe, Bruno Guimaraes, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Lionel Messi are among those who have missed after stuttering. Harry Kane also missed one (though he retook and scored without a stutter).
What happens next? France face the winners of Spain vs Belgium for a place in the World Cup final. The stutter debate will likely continue, especially if another high-profile player fails from the spot. Managers and penalty coaches may start advising against the technique – or demand better execution. With goalkeepers winning the mental battle, the traditional straight run-up might be making a comeback.