The duo Vinicius and Mbappe are giving Xabi Alonso a headache

Coach Xabi Alonso must decide who will be the designated penalty taker at Real Madrid in the near future instead of leaving it "open" as it is now. This is to avoid later controversies, particularly since the club has players with distinct temperaments like Vinicius.

Since Xabi Alonso took charge, Real Madrid has shown a refreshing new look. The Royal Club plays with more organization and composure compared to the instability under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2024/25 season. The most noticeable change since Alonso’s appointment is the positive attitude and collective style of play, rather than a gathering of individual egos. Alonso’s Real is now a true team, striving for victories as a unit rather than for any single player.

Currently, Real temporarily holds the top position in the league standings La Liga after 11 rounds (10 wins, 1 loss), leading their archrivals Barcelona by 5 points. This is a significant advantage in the title race. Every Real player now seems clear about their role, with tactics well-defined. The foundation is set and plans are in place to execute and strive forward. However, amid these notable improvements, one persistent issue remains, sparking much debate: Who should be responsible for taking penalty kicks?

The latest incident occurred in the 4-0 victory over Valencia when Vinicius Junior stepped up to take a penalty. The Brazilian forward failed to convert the chance, and Xabi Alonso’s visibly disappointed reaction from the sidelines expressed his clear dissatisfaction.

According to reports, the Brazilian player was given the penalty opportunity by Kylian Mbappe—who "seems" to be the preferred penalty taker at Real—showing good camaraderie between Mbappe and his teammates. However, when Vinicius missed, the situation changed entirely. This issue becomes more urgent as Real Madrid has been awarded six penalties this season.

Every time the referee points to the penalty spot, there seems to be uncertainty about who will take the responsibility. Simply put, since Alonso hasn’t "officially" established a penalty-taking order, players implicitly defer to one another at times. More worryingly, with recent misses, Real’s confidence in penalty situations has started to waver.

Vinicius Junior’s missed penalty against Valencia marked the second consecutive failure by Real stars, following Kylian Mbappe’s miss in El Clasico. This raises serious questions about the leadership ability of the Spanish coach in critical moments of matches. Looking back a few years, Real always had a designated penalty taker. During the eras of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, or Karim Benzema—and even in Alonso’s final days as team leader—this responsibility was clear. Since Benzema’s departure, the role seemed to pass to Vinicius, then to Modric, Bellingham, and "officially" Mbappe under Carlo Ancelotti.

Current consensus leans toward the French striker continuing to take all penalties. His record and composure far surpass Vinicius and many others at Real right now. Although theoretically sound, unless Xabi Alonso sets a clear and definitive rule, this debate will persist and be dissected every time a penalty is awarded. Fans have even "suggested" Alonso should give the duty to Trent—an expert free-kick taker—if he struggles to choose between Mbappe and Vinicius.

This may seem a minor issue but carries significant risks that could impact crucial future matches. Missing a penalty in domestic league or Champions League qualifiers can be managed, but if it happens in knockout stages or finals of major tournaments, the consequences would be severe. Alonso knows this well. In the year Liverpool came back to draw against Milan in regulation before winning on penalties, Alonso himself participated in that memorable Champions League final. He missed a penalty saved by Dida but fortunately scored on the rebound. Had Alonso truly missed that shot, how could Liverpool have lifted the Champions League trophy?

Additionally, there have been instances where players have contested penalty-taking rights with teammates due to the coach’s lack of clarity. This has left a negative mark, tarnishing the club’s image. Vinicius is talented but his maturity appears fragile. Whenever dissatisfied, he openly argues with Alonso on the pitch in front of fans, management, and opponents. To avoid unnecessary trouble and complications, it’s time for Alonso to resolve this "small" matter decisively to bring long-term stability to the team.

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