Real Madrid's recent 3-0 win against Manchester City in the Champions League was a dream night for the team, particularly for Federico Valverde.
However, the victory was not without criticism, as Vinicius Jr missed a penalty that would have given his team a 4-0 lead and practically settled the tie.
This new failure has led to statistics being published that question whether Vinicius should continue to take penalties for Real Madrid.
Vinicius Jr's penalty success rate is 71.43%, the lowest among Real Madrid players who have taken at least 10 penalties in the 21st century.
He has missed four of the 14 penalties he has taken with the club.
In contrast, Sergio Ramos has the best penalty success rate at the club, converting 22 of his 23 attempts for an effectiveness of 95.65%.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most penalty goals with the team, with an 87.78% success rate after 90 attempts, while Karim Benzema has achieved 86.49% in 37 attempts.
Currently, Kylian Mbappe is the official penalty taker for Real Madrid, with a success rate of 82.61% after 23 attempts.
Despite his penalty woes, Vinicius' season has been outstanding, with 13 goals and 11 assists in 40 games in all competitions.
His talent is undeniable, with speed, dribbling, and good long-range shooting, but his ability from the penalty spot is clearly below par.
The statistics suggest that Vinicius may not be the best choice to take penalties for Real Madrid, and it will be interesting to see if manager Álvaro Arbeloa continues to give him the responsibility.
Meanwhile, Barcelona fans will be watching with interest, hoping that Vinicius' penalty struggles continue.
As the season progresses, it will be important for Real Madrid to find a reliable penalty taker if they want to succeed in the Champions League.
With Vinicius' poor record from the spot, it may be time for Arbeloa to consider alternative options.
The pressure is on Vinicius to improve his penalty record, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to the criticism.
For now, Real Madrid will have to hope that Vinicius can find his form from the penalty spot, or risk being punished by their opponents.
The debate over who should take penalties for Real Madrid is likely to continue, and Vinicius will be under scrutiny every time he steps up to take a penalty.
As a key player for Real Madrid, Vinicius needs to find a way to improve his penalty record and prove himself as a reliable goal-scorer from the spot.
Until then, the question of whether he should continue to take penalties will remain.
In the meantime, Barcelona will be looking to capitalize on Real Madrid's weaknesses, including Vinicius' penalty struggles, as they seek to gain an advantage in the league.
With the Clasico rivalry heating up, every mistake counts, and Vinicius' penalty woes could be a decisive factor in the outcome of the season.
