Proven Performer Reveals the Secret to the "Almost Perfect" Penalty

Kylian Mbappé's missed penalty during France's 2-0 victory over Morocco still irks Frank Leboeuf. The 1998 World Cup winner for France recalled his own penalty success rate of over 95%, attributing it to a "quick run-up" and a "powerful low shot." He added, "It's simpler that way," barely concealing his annoyance with the modern, stuttered run-up technique.

"What I don't understand is how such talented and skillful players like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé can't show simplicity and pragmatism," Leboeuf stated on the program "After Foot." "When you have to take a shot from 9.5 meters, it's incredibly easy for a footballer. Instead of just thinking about themselves, they play with the goalkeeper. For me, that's a lack of respect for the goalkeeper. They wait until the last moment to see where he's going and then change their decision. There's one who does it very well – Neymar. I've been quite critical of him throughout his career, but he's phenomenal at penalties, capable of opening his foot at the last moment. But that carries a huge risk."

According to the former Chelsea defender, the recipe for success is far from complicated: "You have to pick a corner, not change your mind if the goalkeeper moves, and keep in your head what you want to do. A powerful low shot, about 50 centimeters from the post – it's almost impossible for a goalkeeper to save."

While the height and reach of goalkeepers have significantly increased since the end of his career, the former Marseille defender recalled that he had to deal with different challenges: "Unlike now, back then goalkeepers would come off their line and not stay on the goal line. With a goalkeeper on the line, I have no problem. I never missed the target. Michel Platini did it, we've seen Messi do it. But they put so much immense pressure on themselves that I'm willing to do it for free for any club, to try a different approach, to see what's possible with penalties. In a World Cup, there's a 65% success rate for penalties (including shootouts), which is unacceptable."