When it comes to penalties, the Italian goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain has a knack for giving his side the edge. While critics will scrutinise his mistakes, he often responds by making key saves, wielding his considerable frame to cover the entire goal. Before each penalty, Gigio Donnarumma either stretches out his arms or keeps them steady at his sides, widening his stance. He expands his towering presence to seem to fill the goalmouth entirely, a master illusionist who shrinks the space for would-be scorers, rendering them unsure of where to aim. Trying to challenge him mentally is equally daunting; he remains unmoved, his expression blank. Only someone of Mohamed Salahโs calibre manages to score against him consistently, while countless others have faltered as Liverpool faced his remarkable skill, leaving them stymied in the Champions League.
His stats are telling: Donnarumma has faced 60 penalty shots in matches and saved 14 of them, translating to an impressive 23.3 percent success rate. During penalty shootouts, he maintained this percentage, saving 10 out of 43. This means that when a match heads to penalties, the opposition finds themselves on the back foot, while his team starts with a vital psychological advantage. Recently, his exploits have earned him accolades, even gracing the cover of L'รquipe, hailed as a superhero. In one iconic moment, he knelt, arms aloft, as if searching for divine intervention following a trophy conquest.
From the hallowed grounds of Anfield to Wembley on the day Italy clinched the European Championship, Donnarumma has showcased his flair for the dramatic. Players like Darwin Nรบรฑez and Bukayo Saka have faced his imposing presence and inadvertently brilliant technique. When penalties arrive, Donnarumma becomes unmoving, confident in his abilities; he doesnโt celebrate his saves, instead directing his teammates to share in the glory while he prepares for the next task.
The image of him walking serenely amidst the celebrations after clinching the Euro title stands out as a powerful testament to his journey. Other PSG players gathered around to hear Luis Enrique's briefing prior to shootouts sans Donnarumma, as he dashed off to refine his notes on opponents' shooting styles. Together, these moments portray Donnarumma as someone singularly focused, rising above the chatter surrounding his success, ready to face any strike with poise, displaying a presence as magnificent as the goal he guards.