This hit-and-miss penalty technique can make the World Cup’s best players look cool

Stutter-step penalty "Paradinha" at the World Cup: Cool or silly moments for Messi, Mbappé, Ronaldo, Kane and Neymar

It’s theatrical. It can be maddening. It makes the world’s top soccer players look very cool - or very silly.The stutter-step penalty has been a feature of this World Cup, with the leading adopters of the technique being superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Neymar.Let’s say it's had varying levels of success.It has sent France through to the quarterfinals and contributed to Brazil’s exit. Messi didn’t even hi…

This hit-and-miss penalty technique can make the World Cup’s best players look cool

It’s theatrical. It can be maddening. It makes the world’s top soccer players look very cool — or very silly.