5 famous World Cup penalty misses

#2 Zico (1986)

Brazil Zico, 1986 World Cup Final

Zico is known as one of Brazil’s greatest players, and is currently their fifth highest goalscorer of all-time, having netted 48 goals in just 71 games. But despite all that, and the belief that the Brazil team from the 1982 World Cup is one of the greatest of all time, Zico never won a World Cup.

In the quarter-final with France, the game was level going into the final 75 minutes. Careca had opened the scoring for Brazil, before Michel Platini had equalised just before halftime. Zico, who had been suffering from injury during the tournament, came off the bench after 71 minutes, and moments later his side was awarded a penalty.

Despite Careca and Socrates, who had already scored penalties in the tournament, still being on the pitch, it was Zico who took responsibility. His penalty was weak and too close to the ‘keeper though, and Joel Bats made the save.

The game eventually went to a penalty shootout, during which Zico scored, but misses from Socrates and Julio Cesar meant Brazil were sent home. It was Zico’s last ever World Cup match.