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2 hours ago
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When France earns a penalty kick at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they certainly have plenty of options to put at the spot.
That includes top-tier scorers like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, as well as a bunch of deeper-lying players who can strike the ball well, too.
The French side only has one option they turn to, though.
In the biggest moments, if the referee points to the spot, everyone on France will know who is taking it.
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Who takes France's penalties?
Kylian Mbappe is the designated penalty taker for France.
He took two penalties in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina, making both.
In his entire professional career, Mbappe has made 64 penalties and missed 14.
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Why does Mbappe take France's penalties?
Mbappe is regarded as one of the world's premier strikers, a natural goal scorer.
A player like Dembele is impressively skilled but hasn't always been as highly regarded for his ball striking.
Generally, penalty takers either come from the striker spot or from an experienced leader in the midfield. Wingers and outside players who are known more for their speed aren't often relied upon to take penalties, at least for the largest nations and clubs.
Mbappe has proven capable of delivering more often than not, so France will continue to trust him in this role.
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