Football is often defined by narrow margins, and no moment captures that cruelty more sharply than a penalty kick.
What should be an advantage from 12 yards has, across decades, turned into a moment capable of shaping careers and rewriting legacies.
From World Cup finals to continental showpieces, several players have seen their finest stages transformed into lasting heartbreak.
Planet Football recently compiled a list of the most painful penalty misses on football’s biggest platforms.
Kingsley Coman endured such anguish during France’s penalty shootout defeat to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.
Four years after missing France’s 2018 triumph, Coman failed from the spot in the shootout as Argentina claimed the title.
Aurélien Tchouaméni followed moments later, dragging France’s second kick wide of the post to deepen the setback.
The miss came after a 3–3 draw following extra time and handed Argentina a crucial advantage.
Mohamed Salah’s pain arrived earlier in 2022 during Egypt’s World Cup play-off defeat to Senegal.
After being denied a kick in the AFCON final shootout, Salah stepped forward weeks later but missed amid laser distractions.
Egypt failed to qualify for the World Cup, denying Salah football’s most prestigious stage.
Jadon Sancho’s penalty miss in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy marked a turning point in his career.
Unlike Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, Sancho struggled to rediscover his form following the shootout loss.
David Trezeguet’s miss against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final quietly sealed France’s defeat in Berlin.
His effort struck the crossbar, ending France’s hopes despite Zinedine Zidane’s red card dominating headlines.
John Terry’s slip during the 2008 Champions League final shootout denied Chelsea their first European crown.
The defender later admitted the miss haunted him for years until redemption arrived in 2012.
Stuart Pearce carried the burden of his 1990 World Cup semi-final miss until scoring at Euro ’96.
“For me, failure wouldn’t have been to miss again,” Pearce later said. “Failure would have been not to try.”
Gareth Southgate’s miss against Germany at Euro ’96 triggered England’s long penalty curse.
Ironically, Southgate later became the manager who guided England past that mental barrier.
Brahim Díaz suffered fresh heartbreak in the 2025 AFCON final after missing a panenka attempt.
The miss drained belief from the stadium as Senegal secured victory in extra time.
Roberto Baggio’s miss in the 1994 World Cup final remains the most iconic penalty failure in football history.
“If I had had a knife at that moment, I would have stabbed myself,” Baggio later admitted.