Goalkeepers who took penalties

Ederson celebrates during Manchester City's Community Shield win over Manchester United on penalties in August 2024.
Ederson celebrates during Manchester City's Community Shield win over Manchester United on penalties in August 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Goalkeepers are usually better known for saving penalties than for scoring spot-kicks. But there have been some notable exceptions.

Although less common these days, goalkeepers have sometimes been the first-choice penalty taker for their club side. Occasionally, even for their national team.

And if not during the match itself, goalkeepers have more regularly been called upon to take a spot-kick in a penalty shootout. Sometimes, even to win the tie.

Here, a look at some of the goalkeepers who took penalty kicks...

17. Lucidio Sentimenti

Juventus goalkeeper Lucidio Sentimenti makes a save in a game against Inter in 1946.

Juventus goalkeeper Lucidio Sentimenti makes a save in a game against Inter in 1946. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Lucidio Sentimenti played for Juventus and Lazio in the 1940s and 1950s and won nine caps for the Italian national team.

A goalkeeper who was an outfield player at youth level, Sentimenti was also an accomplished penalty taker and scored three spot-kicks in his Serie A career.

16. Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga fires a spot-kick over the crossbar as the Blues are beaten 11-10 on penalties by Liverpool in a shootout in the Carabao Cup final in February 2022.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga fires a spot-kick over the crossbar as the Blues are beaten 11-10 on penalties by Liverpool in a shootout in the Carabao Cup final in February 2022. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Kepa Arrizabalaga became the world's most expensive goalkeeper when he moved from Athletic Club to Chelsea for €80 million (£71.6m).

At the end of his first season at Chelsea, Kepa refused to be taken off ahead of a penalty shootout in the Carabao Cup final, which the Blues eventually lost to Manchester City. And in the 2022 Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, the Spanish goalkeeper was brought on for the shootout, but failed to save a single spot-kick and blasted his effort over the bar as the Reds won 11-10.

15. Ederson

Ederson scores a penalty for Manchester City against Manchester United in a shootout in the Community Shield in August 2024.

Ederson scores a penalty for Manchester City against Manchester United in a shootout in the Community Shield in August 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ederson scored Manchester City's fifth penalty in the shootout as the Sky Blues beat Manchester United 7-6 to win the Community Shield in August 2024.

The Brazilian goalkeeper also converted in a shootout against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals in April 2024, but Pep Guardiola's side were edged out 4-3 on penalties by Los Blancos.

14. Misael Alfaro

El Salvador goalkeeper Misael Alfaro during a training session in 2004.

El Salvador goalkeeper Misael Alfaro during a training session in 2004. (Image credit: Getty Images)

One of the highest-scoring goalkeepers in football history, Misael Alfaro scored 31 official goals across his club career, many of which were penalties, and has claimed that the true figure is actually higher.

A four-time champion at club level, Alfaro also won 42 caps for El Salvador, but never scored a goal for the Central American nation.

13. Vincent Enyeama

Vincent Enyeama celebrates after scoring the winning penalty for Nigeria against Zambia at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Vincent Enyeama scored the winning penalty for Nigeria against Zambia in a shootout in the quarter-finals of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations after saving from Thomas Nyirenda.

Enyeama, who won the AFCON with the Super Eagles in 2013, was also a penalty specialist for his club sides and netted 25 career goals in total.

12. Kennedy Mweene

Zambia's Kennedy Mweene celebrates a goal against Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2013.

Zambia's Kennedy Mweene celebrates a goal against Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2013. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Kennedy Mweene won over 120 caps for Zambia between 2004 and 2021 and was in goal as the Copper Bullets won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mweene netted 14 career goals overall, including 12 penalties. He also converted in a shootout as Zambia beat the Ivory Coast to win the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2012 and scored an equaliser against Nigeria in an AFCON group game the following year.

11. Marko Dmitrović

Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic scores a penalty against Atletico Madrid in La Liga in January 2021.

Eibar goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic scores a penalty against Atletico Madrid in La Liga in January 2021. (Image credit: Getty Images)

After several missed penalties in the 2020/21 season, Eibar turned to goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović for a spot-kick against Atlético Madrid.

Dmitrović stepped up and beat Jan Oblak in a 2-1 loss to Diego Simeone's side. After the game, coach José Luis Mendilibar said that Dmitrović would continue to take the penalties for the Basque club. But he only took one more, against Cádiz in March, and goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma guessed right to parry the Serb's powerful kick.

10. Hans-Jörg Butt

Hans-Jorg Butt in action for Bayern Munich against Barcelona in April 2009.

Hans-Jorg Butt in action for Bayern Munich against Barcelona in April 2009. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hans-Jörg Butt played as a goalkeeper for Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayer Munich in an impressive career which also saw him win four caps for Germany.

Aside from his shot-stopping abilities, Butt was also an excellent penalty taker and scored 26 of his 31 spot-kicks in the Bundesliga. No other goalkeeper has got anywhere near that record.

9. Lionel Mpasi

DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is lifted by one of his team-mates after scoring the winning penalty against Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024.

DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is lifted by one of his team-mates after scoring the winning penalty against Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2024. (Image credit: Getty Images)

DR Congo's run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations featured a thrilling 8-7 win over Egypt on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the last 16.

With the scores at 7-7, Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski crashed his penalty onto the top of the crossbar and over. And moments later, he was powerless to prevent the winning kick as Lionel Mpasi powered his spot-kick into the corner to seal victory for the Leopards.

8. Ricardo

Ricardo celebrates after scoring his winning penalty for Portugal against England at Euro 2004.

Ricardo celebrates after scoring his winning penalty for Portugal against England at Euro 2004. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Ricardo played a pivotal part in Portugal's win on penalties against England in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.

The former Sporting CP goalkeeper removed his gloves and saved Darius Vassell's spot-kick, before stepping up to power home the decisive penalty in a 6-5 shootout win.

7. Gerónimo Rulli

Geronimo Rulli scores for Villarreal in the penalty shootout against Manchester United in the 2021 Europa League final.

Geronimo Rulli scores for Villarreal in the penalty shootout against Manchester United in the 2021 Europa League final. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Villarreal and Manchester United drew 1-1 over 120 minutes in the 2021 Europa League final in Gdańsk and after all 20 outfield players scored their penalties in the shootout, it was the turn of the goalkeepers.

Gerónimo Rulli stepped up to convert his spot-kick and the Argentine then saved David de Gea's effort to win a first ever major trophy for Villarreal and a fourth Europa League title for coach Unai Emery.

6. Johnny Vegas Fernández

Johnny Vegas (right) in Peru training alongside Paolo Maldonado and Roger Serrano in July 2000.

Johnny Vegas (right) in Peru training alongside Paolo Maldonado and Roger Serrano in July 2000. (Image credit: Getty Images)

One of the best Peruvian goalkeepers of his generation, Johnny Vegas Fernández was a regular in squads for the South American nation but won just three caps.

A free-kick and penalty specialist, Vegas netted 45 goals in a 20-year career between 1997 and 2017, making him one of the highest-scoring goalkeepers in football history.

5. Jorge Campos

Jorge Campos in action for Mexico in 1997.

Jorge Campos in action for Mexico in 1997. (Image credit: Getty Images)

An agile shot-stopper who relied on his speed, quick reflexes and anticipation to compensate for his small stature, Jorge Campos is one of Mexico's all-time great goalkeepers.

Campos could also play a bit, spending a season up front at Pumas, and netted over 40 career goals. There were quite a few penalties among those, including a memorable spot-kick scored with the outside of his foot against Pumas' fierce rivals América.

4. Dimitar Ivankov

Bursaspor goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov reacts after conceding a goal against Valencia in November 2010.

Bursaspor goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov reacts after conceding a goal against Valencia in November 2010. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Former Bulgarian number one Dimitar Ivankov netted 42 goals in his career, making him the sixth highest scoring goalkeeper of all time and the leading European.

Many of those were penalties and in 2008, he scored two and saved three as Kayserispor beat Gençlerbirliği 11-10 in a shootout to win the Turkish Cup.

3. José Luis Chilavert

José Luis Chilavert in action for Paraguay against Spain at the 2002 World Cup.

José Luis Chilavert in action for Paraguay against Spain at the 2002 World Cup. (Image credit: Getty Images)

José Luis Chilavert was one of the best goalkeepers in the world at his peak and the Paraguayan was South American Footballer of the Year in 1996.

Chilavert scored over 60 career goals, with a record eight of those netted for Paraguay. Many of his strikes came from free-kicks and penalties – and he even netted in the shootout for Vélez Sarsfield as the Argentine side beat São Paulo in the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1994.

2. René Higuita

Rene Higuita prepares for a Colombia game against Ecuador at the Copa America in 1999.

Rene Higuita prepares for a Colombia game against Ecuador at the Copa America in 1999. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Legendary Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita was nicknamed El Loco ("The Madman") and was known for taking risks.

Higuita regularly brought the ball out from the back when his team were struggling to create chances. He scored 43 career goals in total, including 35 penalties.

1. Rogério Ceni

Rogerio Ceni celebrates after scoring a penalty for Sao Paulo against River Plate in the Copa Libertadores in June 2005.

Rogerio Ceni celebrates after scoring a penalty for Sao Paulo against River Plate in the Copa Libertadores in June 2005. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Rogério Ceni spent almost all of his career with São Paulo and was the club's set-piece taker between 1997 and 2015.

The former Brazil shot-stopper netted 129 times in that period, with many from the penalty spot, and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the goalkeeper with the most goals scored in professional football.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.

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