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Why Is Neymar So Good at Penalty? The Secrets Behind His Spot-Kick Mastery

Why Is Neymar So Good at Penalty? The Secrets Behind His Spot-Kick Mastery

It’s not just luck – Neymar’s penalty skills are calculated

Let’s get one thing out of the way: Neymar’s penalty technique is not about chance. It’s not "just talent" either. It’s an entire method — a fusion of timing, psychology, and, well, a little bit of flair.

You’ve seen it, right? That calm run-up. That slight pause. Boom. Goal. Again. And again. But how the heck does he do it so consistently?

The famous Neymar penalty technique

That slow run-up and sudden pause

Neymar uses a technique that messes with the goalkeeper’s head — and timing. His approach:

  • Starts slow

  • Includes a short hesitation or jump (sometimes called the "Jorginho hop")

  • Then suddenly accelerates into the kick

This forces the goalkeeper to make a decision too early. Most keepers dive before Neymar even kicks the ball. And that’s exactly what he wants.

It’s basically a psychological game. And Neymar? He’s the grandmaster.

Ball placement and variety

Unlike some players who always shoot the same way (yeah, we’re looking at you, old-school strikers), Neymar keeps it unpredictable:

  • Sometimes low and hard to the corner

  • Other times soft and central (Panenka style — gutsy move, huh?)

  • He also changes pace and angle

He studies the keeper. Some say he even waits for them to move before deciding where to shoot.

Practice, practice, and more... guess what? Practice

Okay, this sounds cliché — but Neymar doesn’t just rely on talent. His penalty skill comes from thousands of hours on the training pitch.

According to former PSG coaches, he regularly stays after training sessions to take extra penalties.
Not just shooting — but rehearsing the entire sequence: breath control, run-up rhythm, even eye movement.

Yep, that’s wild. But that’s also why he rarely misses.

Mental strength under pressure

Staying cool in the craziest moments

World Cup. Champions League. Olympic final. Neymar has taken penalties in some of football’s most high-pressure situations. And delivered.

How? Some insiders say he uses:

  • Breathing techniques to stay calm

  • Visualization (he imagines scoring before he even kicks)

  • Eye contact strategies — sometimes staring down the keeper, sometimes looking away

It’s not arrogance — it’s pure mental warfare.

The confidence factor

There’s also that... swagger. Neymar plays with a kind of confidence that borders on theatrical. He knows he’ll score — and that belief alone throws keepers off.

I mean, would you want to be standing in goal when Neymar's casually dancing toward the spot, smirking like he knows your next move?

Lessons from Neymar's penalty success

Whether you're a Sunday league baller or just a football geek, you can actually learn from Neymar’s approach:

  • Don’t rush your run-up — control the pace

  • Watch the keeper — use their impatience against them

  • Practice with different techniques — don’t be a one-trick pony

  • Work on your mental game — confidence matters as much as technique

Oh, and yeah — maybe add a bit of flair (but don’t overdo it unless your name is Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior).

Final whistle: Why Neymar rarely misses

So, why is Neymar so good at penalties? It’s a combo of:

  • Elite-level technique

  • Nasty-good psychological tricks

  • Absurdly high confidence

  • And hours and hours of focused repetition

He doesn’t just take a penalty. He owns the moment.

And that, my friend, is what separates a great player… from a penalty legend.

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Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years)
14 Years112.0 lb. (50.8 kg)64.5" (163.8 cm)
15 Years123.5 lb. (56.02 kg)67.0" (170.1 cm)
16 Years134.0 lb. (60.78 kg)68.3" (173.4 cm)
17 Years142.0 lb. (64.41 kg)69.0" (175.2 cm)

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