The goalkeeper who broke records by stopping five consecutive penalties
In short: In the high-stakes world of the Bundesliga, Noah Atubolu achieved something unprecedented. While most keepers struggle to stop a single spot kick, the German professional established a new league record by denying five consecutive penalties in a remarkable run of defensive dominance.
Noah Atubolu's rise through the SC Freiburg academy saw him transition from a centre-back to a specialist between the posts. By the 2023–24 season, following the departure of Mark Flekken, Atubolu was installed as Freiburg's first-choice goalkeeper. His tenure has been marked by significant milestones, including a 609-minute period without conceding a goal in the Bundesliga—a feat that surpassed the previous club record of 510 minutes held by Richard Golz since the 2000–01 season.
The pinnacle of his individual defensive prowess was his record-breaking penalty-saving streak. Der Spiegel reports that Atubolu set a new Bundesliga record by denying five penalties straight, beating the previous tally of four achieved by Hans-Jörg Butt, Frank Rost, Thomas Zander, and Bernd Leno. His victims included high-profile attackers such as Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen and Kevin Volland of Union Berlin, spanning from the 2023–24 season through to the 2025–26 campaign.
Beyond the club level, Atubolu has been a mainstay in Germany's youth national setups. He notably broke Manuel Neuer's record for the most appearances by a goalkeeper for the under-21 side during the Euros 2025. Despite interest from the Nigerian football association due to his family roots, he remained committed to the DFB. His career continues to evolve, evidenced by his 2026 loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt for an estimated €1 million fee.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Noah Atubolu
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