For journalist Nabil Djellit, Brazilian international Neymar remains the best penalty taker in the world. And according to him, the one who deserves the second spot is none other than Abdoulaye Touré.
Not well-known to the general public, Abdoulaye Touré, 31, is a Guinean international footballer playing as a defensive midfielder for Havre AC. On May 17, 2025, he delivered a memorable performance for his team by scoring two crucial penalties.
A Historic Evening for Le Havre
During the 34th matchday of Ligue 1, Le Havre, long threatened with relegation, pulled off a stunning feat by overturning RC Strasbourg Alsace with a score of 3-2 in the dying seconds of the match.
The hero of the night? Abdoulaye Touré. He scored a first penalty at the end of the first half (43rd minute) and repeated the feat in stoppage time (90+9) after a foul by Andrew Omobamidele, converting the penalty with a daring Panenka that secured his club’s place in Ligue 1.
Nabil Djellit’s Surprising Opinion
Following this achievement, Nabil Djellit set social media ablaze with a bold statement:
“I think without taking too much risk, we can say that Abdoulaye Touré is the best penalty taker in the world right after Neymar.”
Divisive Comments
This statement has obviously sparked a debate. Many contest the choice to place Neymar at the top of the hierarchy, especially since a ranking established by We Sport in October 2024 doesn’t even list him among the top ten penalty specialists in history.
This ranking, based on the success/attempts ratio, includes only legends like Matthew Le Tissier (47/47), Cristiano Ronaldo (166/196), Hugo Sanchez (74/77), Marco Van Basten (51/55), and Michel Platini (44/46). Other prestigious names like Alan Shearer, Robert Lewandowski, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, and goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni also make this exclusive list.
