Czech international's famous attempt in 1976 - the Panenka has been done by loads of players in cluding Totti and Zizou (and both in very very important matches). But Panenka himself thinks Messi executed it brilliantly and is the most perfect one.

Of course Zizou's one is way more important and in the final of a WC you need a nerve made out of steal to do that. But Panenka implies the technique itself only. "It is the best one I've ever seen: not too powerful, down the middle and looping," he told RAC 1

If you watch it closely, the chip, the ball drop of Messi was perfect, even the Getafe goalie stood up already the ball still dropping... Crazy

Did not seem special at first, but taking a closer look at it makes me realize how amazing the technique just is.

I loved the Panenka, i guess each of us has his own preferences in Football as a game, my best action on this game was this...

Not a goal nor an assist, but it actually gives me more pleasure to watch than just a goal, the excecution was incredible...

Paneka needs to get off medications /

Doing that against Gettafe < doing that against Italy , Buffon in the final of World Cup ...

Zidane's was still the best panenka and the best penalty I've ever seen...

Like Marcus said, there's a difference between chipping a mediocre/below par Getafe keeper and chipping the legendary Gianluigi Buffon in the World Cup final....

Agree with both of you about the importance, but let's keep in mind that Panenka was only talking about the technique. Messi's one was perfect.

Ofcourse nothing can compare with Zizou's one against Buffon (at his prime) level of importance, goalie etc... it is the most impressive on for sure. May be because there was much less pressure so Messi did it better (technically).

Doing Panenka in pen is one of the riskiest technique so bravo to all.

@tiki: yeah that one was insane... his smiling after that was funny too...

That's why Messi is the best player of the world

I got your point of the technique, I simply love when you kick the ball with an absolute perfect touch, whether it's 40m pass, long shot, panenka, chip through ball... or anything else.

BUT, I'd still say Zidane's was A LOT harder to save, had the GK realised that panenka would be coming in last split second.

But on the other hand if Antonin Panenka says so, then it must be it. Can't really argue.

Well in penalties, you dont have one superior to the other goalies. Remember Tim Krul? the Dutch one? I dont think he's better goalie in general, if not way below... but well he showed in Penalty shootout he was the boss

@tuan

I think it was a surprise to opposition to see Krul . I think they did not study Krul very well and underestimated him . Buffon is consistency . Players studied him and knew a lot about him but he would still manage incredible saves . It is also very intimidating to face goalkeeper like Buffon .

The Panenka is beautiful no doubt, but it can be saved if the keeper has studied the penalty taker and wits in the middle. I prefer the penalties taken by Balo, Hazard etc.