This hit-and-miss penalty technique can make the World Cup’s best players look cool — or silly
Summary
The stutter-step penalty is a soccer technique where players pause or feint before kicking the ball to confuse the goalkeeper. It has been used by top players like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo during the 2026 World Cup with mixed success.Key Facts
- The stutter-step penalty involves players hesitating or faking before kicking to trick the goalkeeper.
- This technique was popularized in Brazil in the late 1950s and early 1960s and is called “paradinha” in Portuguese.
- Legendary player Pelé made it famous, and Neymar used a similar style early in his career.
- Soccer rules were changed in 2010 to limit how players can feint during a penalty and to penalize unfair moves.
- The technique is risky and requires skill and confidence under pressure.
- At the 2026 World Cup, some players like Mbappé helped their teams advance with it, while others like Messi and Neymar missed penalties using it.
- The method depends heavily on tricking the goalkeeper who tries to guess the kick early.
- Referees enforce that players can only feint during their approach but not after stopping before kicking.
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