The German and Bayern Munich goalkeeper’s ability in shootouts could decide the future of his team as they strive for the 2026 World Cup title.
How many penalties has Manuel Neuer stopped? Germany’s goalkeeper’s percentage
The round of 32 World Cup matches are upon us. Of the 32 teams remaining, only one will achieve glory by being crowned the top team in the world.
A key factor for advancing in the knockout phase is having a strong goalkeeper, as it would not be surprising to see several penalty shootouts. For the rest of the tournament, matches ending all squared after 30 minuts of overtime will go to a penalty shootout, thus reminding us that the skill of goalkeepers can have a significant influence.
Manuel Neuer, Germany’s goalkeeper
Germany boast a world-class goalkeeper in their ranks. We’re talking about Manuel Neuer, who at 40 years old, has had another great season with Bayern Munich. Neuer made his national team debut back in 2009 and has since accumulated 123 caps.
Penalties saved by Neuer
While perhaps not his strongest attribute, Neuer is proficient at saving penalties. The Bayern legend has a commendable record in this regard, having stopped 17 penalties during regular minutes of play throughout his extensive career. The last time he stopped a penalty was in January 2024, saving a shot from Sven Michel in a match that Bayern won against Augsburg.
According to Transfermarkt data, he has faced 83 penalties, giving him a save percentage of 20 percent by stopping 17 out of 83 attempts.
| Penalty shootout game | Opponent | Penalties faced | Penalties saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| German Cup 2007-08 | VfL Wolfsburg | 5 | 0 |
| Champions League 2007-08 | Porto | 3 | 2 |
| German Cup 2011-12 | B. Mönchengladbach | 4 | 1 |
| Champions League 2011-12 | Real Madrid | 4 | 2 |
| Champions League 2011-12 | Chelsea | 5 | 1 |
| European Super Cup 2013 | Chelsea | 5 | 1 |
| German Cup 2014-15 | Bayer Leverkusen | 4 | 1 |
| German Cup 2014-15 | Dortmund | 3 | 1 |
| German Super Cup 2015-16 | VfL Wolfsburg | 5 | 0 |
| German Cup 2015-16 | Dortmund | 5 | 1 |
| Euro 2016 | Italy | 9 | 2 |
| German Cup 2020-21 | Holstein Kiel | 6 | 0 |
Neuer in penalty shootouts
Neuer is also effective in penalty shootouts. Memorably, during the 2011/12 Champions League semi-final between Bayern and Real Madrid, he saved penalties from Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo. His last shootout was in 2021, in the German Cup round of 16 match against Holstein Kiel, where he did not save any of the 6 penalties he faced.
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