Football’s Most Unusual Penalty Techniques – Ranked

August 8, 2025 Oliver Obel

Penalty kicks may look simple, but high-pressure moments often demand creative solutions. Some players have developed unorthodox techniques to outwit goalkeepers and give themselves the edge. Here is a countdown of the most unusual penalty styles in football history, starting from number 17.

17. Chloe Kelly

Chloe Kelly uses a composed routine that begins with a steady ball twirl before placing it on the spot. She then performs a short leap in her run-up before striking firmly, a technique that helped England win Euro 2025.

16. Simone Zaza

Simone Zaza became infamous for his overly elaborate run-up during Euro 2016. His penalty miss against Germany was widely mocked, overshadowing previous success with the same style.

15. Andrej Kramarić

In a 2020 match against Borussia Dortmund, Andrej Kramarić scored a penalty while looking away from the goal. The no-look finish highlighted his confidence and flair in an empty stadium.

14. Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes employs a small hop just before striking the ball. This pause allows him to watch the goalkeeper and choose his placement at the last moment.

13. Cuauhtémoc Blanco

Cuauhtémoc Blanco often began his penalty run-up from far outside the area. His slow and deliberate approach was highly effective, resulting in 71 goals from 73 attempts.

12. Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli would approach the ball with a slow run and pause just before shooting. The delay gave him time to read the goalkeeper's movement and calmly slot the ball home.

11. Jorginho

Jorginho is known for his hop-and-skip routine that unsettles goalkeepers. Although successful for Chelsea and Italy, it has also failed on key occasions when mistimed.

10. Paul Gallagher

Paul Gallagher placed the ball and turned his back to the goalkeeper until the whistle blew. He would then quickly turn and shoot, a rare routine that often resulted in goals.

9. Giuseppe Signori

Giuseppe Signori took his penalties with no run-up, using just one step before striking. The technique gave keepers little time to react and was remarkably consistent.

8. Ivan Toney

Ivan Toney’s penalty method involves maintaining eye contact with the goalkeeper throughout. With just two steps, he delivers a powerful shot after waiting for the keeper to commit.

7. Diego Perotti

Diego Perotti would walk slowly to the ball and side-foot it with precision. His calm approach confused goalkeepers and led to a high conversion rate.

6. Neymar

Neymar Jr. — imagestockdesign / Shutterstock.com

Early in his career, Neymar used exaggerated feints before shooting, a style later banned. He now uses a subtle pause to wait for the keeper’s move before finishing.

5. Rafael Albrecht

Rafael Albrecht would wait until the very last moment to choose where to shoot. The strategy worked extremely well, resulting in 35 goals from 37 penalties.

4. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo used a subtle stamp near the ball to make it bounce slightly before striking. This added power and unpredictability to his penalty technique.

3. Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff passed his penalty to a teammate instead of shooting directly. The two-man move caught defenders off guard and led to a successful goal.

2. Gaizka Mendieta

Gaizka Mendieta focused entirely on the goalkeeper during his run-up. By ignoring the ball and watching the opponent, he maintained a high success rate from the spot.

1. Antonin Panenka

Antonín_Panenka — By David Sedlecký - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94338858

Antonin Panenka invented the now-iconic chipped penalty at Euro 1976. His soft shot down the middle won the tournament for Czechoslovakia and inspired generations of imitators.