Yassine Bounou Sets Record as World Cup's Greatest Penalty Saver

Yassine Bounou, Morocco's goalkeeper, has solidified his reputation as the best penalty saver in World Cup history. On July 9, 2026, during the quarterfinal match against France, Bounou saved a penalty from Kylian Mbappé, marking his fourth penalty save in World Cup tournaments, more than any other goalkeeper ever. Throughout his World Cup career, Bounou has faced nine penalties, conceding only two goals, saving four, and witnessing three shots miss the target.

This latest save raised Bounou's professional career total to 48 penalty saves, underscoring his expertise from the penalty spot. His reputation was built over several tournaments: in the 2022 World Cup, he saved two penalties against Spain; in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, he stopped two more against Nigeria; and in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, he saved a penalty against the Netherlands.

In the match against France, Mbappé was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui. However, the penalty kick was delayed for over three minutes, sparking social media debate about the unusual wait and its possible impact on Mbappé's concentration. Despite the delay, Bounou remained composed, correctly anticipating and securely catching the penalty shot.

Bounou, 35, was born in Montreal to Moroccan parents and raised in Morocco. He currently plays for Saudi club Al-Hilal and previously made a name for himself at Sevilla in Spain, winning the Europa League. He has been twice nominated for FIFA's Best Goalkeeper award and ranked 13th in the 2023 Ballon d'Or and third for the Yashin Trophy. Following Morocco's historic 2022 World Cup run, the team continues to dream big, with Bounou's penalty-saving prowess providing a significant advantage in critical moments.