Xabi Alonso decides penalty-taker order at Real Madrid: Report

Madrid will have a new penalty-taker from this season.

Xabi Alonso has decided the first-choice penalty taker for the 2025–2026 campaign, as reported by journalist Marcos Benito on El Chiringuito TV. Vinicius Junior will serve as the backup under the new manager, Alonso.

At the Santiago Bernabeu, penalties gained a lot of attention during the 2024–2025 season. Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe both stepped up at various moments, so there was no first taker.

But by the end of the season, it was becoming more and more obvious that the Frenchman was the better choice. Alonso has not wasted any time in elaborating on the directive, formally establishing that tendency.

When Real Madrid played Osasuna in their LaLiga debut, the choice already paid dividends. Kylian Mbappe scored the game’s lone goal from the penalty spot, giving Los Blancos a 1-0 victory and demonstrating his poise under pressure.

Penalty stats back Mbappe compared to Vinicius last season

The previous season’s statistics demonstrate why Alonso chose Mbappe as his top pick. Despite missing three penalties in 2024–2025, the French forward converted eight, displaying dependability and self-assurance under duress.

In contrast, Vinicius’s record was a bit inconsistent. He squandered two penalties that cost Real Madrid, but he did score four.

His first significant miss was in LaLiga against Valencia, where Giorgi Mamardashvili comfortably stopped his shot, resulting in a 1-2 loss.

Even though he scored in prior games, his miss against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 is another sad memory.

There is a noticeable change in mindset now that Alonso is in charge. Mbappe embraces his position as Real Madrid’s offensive leader and appears more confident than he was in his rookie campaign.

However, Vinicius has recently come under fire for his inconsistent play and lack of effort, which makes him a less reliable choice right away.

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