The worst Panenka penalties of all time - ranked

When Antonin Panenka stepped up and chipped a penalty down the middle to win the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia, he knew not what he had started.

The years since have seen players all over the world try and replicate the audacious effort, and even today, the hysteria surrounding Panenka penalties is yet to calm down. For every Andrea Pirlo against England, though, there's a Sergio Aguero against Chelsea...and it never looks great when you miss.

To celebrate the sheer hilariousness of Edouard Mendy diving to his right, but still having time to readjust himself and catch Aguero's ill-fated penalty with one hand, we've taken a look at some of the other poorly executed Panenkas that have graced the blooper reels over the years.

8. Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling was reluctant to criticise Aguero when he took the ball from him against Chelsea, only to completely botch his attempted Panenka.

Sterling's sheepishness probably stems from the fact he's been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

Unlike with Aguero's effort, City weren't punished for Sterling's humbling miss against Leicester's Danny Ward, as they went on to win the shootout.

Still, the way he hopelessly hoofed it over the bar will live with him for the rest of his career. Humiliating scenes.

7. Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch wasn't exactly known for his subtlety and precision now, was he?

He was a capable goalscorer on his day and he had a moment of magic in his locker - just look at his brain-melting volley against Man City in 2012.

But he only scored two penalties in his entire career, so what he was thinking against Jamaica when he attempted to dink the ball down the middle is anyone's guess.

Anyone watching could have told you that was going over the bar.

6. Francesco Totti

Francesco Totti liked a Panenka. His effort against Edwin van der Sar at Euro 2000 ranks among the best ever attempted,

But the ice-cold Italian didn't get them all right. He actually missed 19 of the 105 penalties he attempted, but few were more embarrassing than this one against Lecce in 2005.

Vincenzo Scignano didn't even have to move.

5. Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker probably knew what was coming to him when he stepped into BBC HQ to present Match of the Day on Saturday.

The former England striker was taken on a trip down memory lane to a warmup friendly for Euro 1992, when he attempted to outsmart veteran Brazil keeper Carlos Roberto.

Again, it sailed over the bar. It must be an England thing.

4. Aleksandar Mitrovic

“I have no idea why I'd done that. I was watching Depay score one yesterday and decided at the last moment. I am stupid.”

Probably a fair assessment from the Serbia striker when he sent one flying against Montenegro in a Nations League match in 2018. We've all been there, Mitro.

3. Ali Adnan

From one extreme to another, Vancouver Whitecaps' Ali Adnan had obviously been watching the various efforts that had sailed over the bar, and vowed not to put too much on it.

The problem is he didn't put anything on it.

The LA Galaxy keeper was able to collect the ball just before it bounced harmlessly on the line, and was so embarrassed for the wing-back that he didn't even celebrate.

*Laughs in Zlatan *

2. Sergio Aguero

Ah yes, the man of the hour.

Martin Tyler and Gary Neville's nearly-speechless reactions sum this effort up perfectly.

"Oh dear..."

"Oh..."

1. Ademola Lookman

It's the 98th minute of a game you really can't afford to lose, and out of nowhere, you get awarded a penalty that will surely be the last kick of the ball.

You have to make it count.

So what do you do?

You certainly don't chip it harmlessly down the middle, straight into the keeper's gloves, costing your team a vital point and sparking the ire of the club's regular penalty taker, with whom you argued to take the spot-kick in the first place.

Unless you're Fulham's Ademola Lookman, then that's exactly what you do.

This was possibly the worst Panenka effort of all time, and on the evidence of this piece, that is saying something.