342 PLAYERS HAVE TAKEN WORLD CUP PENALTY SHOOTOUT SHOTS SINCE 1982

A total of 342 players have stepped up to take penalty shootouts at the FIFA World Cup since the format was first introduced in 1982, according to records compiled by The Guardian. France midfielder Alain Giresse struck the competition's first shootout penalty in that year's tournament. Penalty shootouts remain among the most demanding moments in international football, requiring players to convert from the spot under extreme pressure.

The penalty shootout has been used to decide World Cup matches when regulation and extra time produce no winner. Each shootout tests the psychological resilience of players as they face the goalkeeper in isolation, with the outcome often determining a team's progression in the tournament. The format has produced moments of both triumph and despair across the decades of World Cup competition.

The Guardian has documented notable examples of players who took their opportunity from the penalty spot during World Cup shootouts. The shootout format continues to feature prominently in football's most prestigious international tournament, remaining a significant element of knockout-stage competition.