According to journalist Marcos Benito on El Chiringuito TV, Kylian Mbappe has been confirmed as Real Madrid’s first-choice penalty taker for the 2025/26 season.
Under new manager Xabi Alonso, Vinicius Junior will act as the second option from the spot, ending the uncertainty that surrounded the issue last season under Carlo Ancelotti.
During the 2024/25 campaign, penalties became a hot topic at the Santiago Bernabeu. There was no fixed taker, with both Mbappe and Vinicius stepping up at different times.
However, by the latter part of the season, it became increasingly clear that the Frenchman was the preferred option. That trend has now been made official by Alonso, who has wasted no time in clarifying the order.
The decision already paid off in Real Madrid’s La Liga opener against Osasuna. Mbappe’s only goal of the match came from the penalty spot, sealing a 1-0 victory for Los Blancos and underlining his composure in key moments.
The statistics from last season show why Alonso has opted for Mbappe as the primary choice.
While the French forward missed three penalties in 2024/25, he successfully converted eight, demonstrating both reliability and confidence in high-pressure situations.
Vinicius, meanwhile, had a more inconsistent record. He scored four penalties but missed two that proved costly for Real Madrid.
His first major miss came against Valencia in La Liga, where his weak and poorly placed attempt was easily saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, leading to a 1-2 defeat.
Another painful memory was his miss against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, although he did score in other games.
Now, with Alonso at the helm, there is a visible shift in mentality. Mbappe looks more assured than in his debut season, embracing his role as Real Madrid’s leader in attack.
Vinicius, on the other hand, has recently been criticised for his lack of consistency and effort, making him a less secure option from the spot.