As England gears up for the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, the age-old question of penalty shootout prowess resurfaces. While the Three Lions have a checkered past from the spot, recent performances hint at a more confident approach, bolstered by an array of skilled penalty-takers.
GOAL has undertaken the task of ranking all 26 members of the current squad, assessing their reliability from 12 yards. This comprehensive list aims to provide clarity on who England can depend on when the pressure is at its absolute highest.
Leading the charge is Ivan Toney, whose statistics speak for themselves. With a remarkable record of 57 goals from 61 professional penalties and a solid 7 out of 9 in shootouts, he stands out as a truly dependable option. Close behind him are Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham, both having missed only a single penalty throughout their senior careers, showcasing exceptional composure and accuracy.
Captain Harry Kane, despite a few uncharacteristic recent misses, remains a formidable force from the penalty spot. His overall record, particularly in the high-stakes environment of penalty shootouts, is outstanding and instills confidence in his ability to deliver.
While Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford have faced the scrutiny of crucial missed penalties in past tournaments, their overall conversion rates are still impressive. Their ability to bounce back and maintain a high success rate makes them valuable assets.
Emerging talents like Reece James and Elliot Anderson are noted for their perfect penalty records, albeit with less professional experience. Their clean sheets from the spot suggest a cool head under pressure.
Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice have also demonstrated consistent reliability. Rice, in particular, has shown a knack for stepping up and converting in shootout scenarios, adding another dimension to his midfield contributions.
Noni Madueke and Kobbie Mainoo, though with limited penalty-taking experience, have a perfect record in shootouts, indicating they are players who can deliver when called upon.
Further down the list, players like Morgan Rogers and Jordan Henderson possess more inconsistent track records, suggesting they might not be the first choices for a crucial penalty.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has a single, memorable successful penalty to his name, a moment etched in the memories of fans.
Defenders Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Guehi have minimal professional penalty-taking experience. Some of these players may have never even taken a competitive penalty, placing them lower in the pecking order for shootout duties.
Rounding out the list are goalkeepers Dean Henderson and James Trafford, alongside players like Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah, and Dan Burn, who appear to have no recorded professional penalty-taking history. Their inclusion at the bottom signifies their likely position as last resort options should the shootout go deep into the squad.
