Atubolu Breaks Bundesliga Record with Fifth Consecutive Penalty Save

Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu has made Bundesliga history with a feat rarely seen he saved his fifth consecutive penalty in matches this season. Latest stop came in the 59th minute of their 3-0 win over Werder Bremen, preserving a strong lead for his side.

At just 23 years old, Atubolu’s run of consecutive penalty saves stretches back to some high profile opponents. His previous successes include stops against André Silva of Bremen, Florian Wirtz for Bayer Leverkusen, Kevin Volland, and Josip Juranović of Union Berlin and now, Romano Schmid.

In the 2024-25 campaign, he also set a club mark by going 576 minutes without conceding a goal, highlighting not only his penalty-saving instincts but overall consistency between the posts.

Born to a German mother and Nigerian father, Atubolu is eligible for both nations. He’s represented Germany at youth levels including U17, U19, U20 and U21. There has been interest from the Nigeria Football Federation in trying to persuade him to switch allegiances, though former Super Eagles coach José Peseiro cautioned that this might be a difficult prospect given his trajectory with Germany.

Editorial

We celebrate Noah Atubolu’s recent achievement, which speaks volumes not just about reflexes, but about mental strength and preparation. Five consecutive penalty saves in the Bundesliga is no accident it signifies a height of confidence, game reading, and calm under pressure. In a league renowned for quality attackers and ruthless finishers, this record is exceptional.

Equally, the longer stretch without conceding a goal underscores something deeper than just luck it reflects leadership, positional awareness, and strong defensive unit work. For a goalkeeper, consistency matters as much as individual moments and Atubolu appears to be delivering both.

His dual eligibility presents an interesting storyline. Nigeria might still hope to recruit him his Nigerian heritage gives that potential. Yet, representing Germany at multiple youth levels shows how much trust has already been placed in him by the German system. If Nigeria were to mount a serious attempt, it will require demonstrating the kind of vision and role that can keep him engaged.

We believe that Atubolu’s next challenge is to maintain this momentum. Records and streaks in football invite scrutiny each game will draw more attention, each penalty faced will be under a lens. How he handles that will shape his standing among top keepers.

If he continues on this trajectory, he could become one of Europe’s most talked-about goalkeepers not just for his nationality or heritage, but because he earns it with every save, every clean sheet, and every moment he proves dependable when it matters most. This is a keeper in ascent and both Nigeria and Germany will be watching closely.

Did You Know?

1. Noah Atubolu’s five consecutive penalty saves include stops versus top-flight forwards from clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, Union Berlin, Werder Bremen among others.
2. His 576-minute clean sheet run in the 2024-25 season was a club record for Freiburg.
3. Atubolu has represented Germany at U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels, indicating his growing international experience.
4. He is eligible to play for Nigeria through his father, and has been linked with the Super Eagles, though it has been suggested that switching from Germany might be a difficult process.
5. The penalty he saved against Werder Bremen was in the 59th minute; it preserved Freiburg’s two-goal cushion and helped them seal a 3-0 victory.