Milan’s season has been filled with inconsistency, but one statistic stands out as particularly alarming: the worst penalty-kick record in Europe’s top five leagues. In a campaign already plagued by disappointment, the Rossoneri’s inability to convert from the spot has cost them valuable points, with their latest miss only adding to their troubles.
On Sunday, Santiago Gimenez became the fourth Milan player to fail from 12 yards, his weak attempt against Napoli’s Alex Meret sealing yet another defeat. Milan has now missed four of their nine penalties this season, scoring just 55.6% of their spot-kicks—the lowest conversion rate among teams in Europe’s major leagues, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.
While bad luck and poor execution have played a role, the team’s ongoing struggles from the penalty spot have revealed a deeper issue: a lack of clear leadership in decisive moments. And at the center of this conversation is Christian Pulisic.
The Serie A giant’s penalty struggles began early in the season, with their disastrous 2-1 defeat against Fiorentina in October setting the tone. That night, Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham both had penalties saved by David de Gea, despite Pulisic being the designated taker. Yet, confusion and hesitation led to others stepping up instead.
The problem resurfaced in February, when the American himself finally got his turn at the spot, only to see his effort saved against Torino—his first-ever career miss from 12 yards. And now, just weeks later, the trend continued against Napoli, only this time, the American gave up the penalty to Gimenez.
Why it’s ok for Pulisic to be more selfish when it comes to penalty duty
While Pulisic’s willingness to support a struggling teammate was commendable—Gimenez had not scored since February 18—many believe it was a mistake. Former MLS star Mike Grella, now an analyst for CBS Sports, criticized the USMNT star for not taking charge in such a crucial moment.
“In that moment, him being timid, not taking the penalty… he’s their penalty shooter,” he said, pointing out that Pulisic had been established as Milan’s designated taker after the Fiorentina debacle.
Grella was clear in his message: there are times when being selfish is necessary. “In that moment, though, he should say ‘you showed up here a month ago, get off the football, it’s my football, I’m taking the penalty.’ There’s a time to be selfish, there’s a time to be a bad guy, especially if you’re a footballer.”
Had the 26-year-old stepped up and converted, the Red and Blacks could have changed the trajectory of the match. Instead, his decision to hand the ball to Gimenez backfired, leaving the squad stuck in ninth place and adding yet another moment of regret to an already frustrating season.
