Dembele’s Unexpected Penalty Choice Goes Viral

During a pivotal moment in the Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele leveled the score against Arsenal with a penalty kick. The French international stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick using his less dominant right foot. The penalty was awarded midway through the second half after Cristhian Mosquera was penalized for a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in Budapest.

Dembele, who is PSG’s designated penalty taker, showed no hesitation, firing the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. This goal canceled out Kai Havertz’s early opener for the Gunners, bringing the match back to parity within six minutes.

Fans Notice Dembele’s Right-Footed Penalty

While the penalty itself was executed without significant drama, a significant number of football fans took to social media to express their surprise at Dembele’s choice of foot. Many noted that the winger, predominantly known for his left-footed prowess, opted to take the crucial penalty with his right.

Online discussions highlighted this unusual tactic. One user on X (formerly Twitter) questioned the psychological aspect, asking, “Who noticed Dembele played that penalty with right foot? Psychology ready for it.” Another expressed disbelief, querying, “How’s dembele taking a penalty with his right foot when he’s left footed in a champs league final.”

Further observations pointed out the contrast between Dembele’s usual playing style and his penalty choice. One commenter noted, “Dembele has been on rw playing with his left foot but decided to play the pen with his right.” Another fan observed, “Dembele is left footed but uses right foot to take penalties.”

Dembele’s Past Comments on Foot Dominance

This isn’t the first time Dembele’s preferred kicking foot has been a topic of discussion. During his time at Rennes, Dembele addressed his foot dominance in an interview. When asked which foot was stronger, he responded, “Left footed. I’m more left-footed, yeah.”

The interviewer then followed up, noting that the forward did not typically take penalties with his left foot. Dembele offered his reasoning: “Because I shoot better with my right foot.” This explanation sheds light on his strategic decision to use his right foot for penalties, even if it deviates from his natural inclination in open play.