To many football fans, taking a penalty during a football match is a lottery with more than 50% chance of putting the ball pass the goalkeeper into the opponent’s net.

But this is not the same when such penalty kicker is facing Valencia goalie, Diego Alves, who lately has been referred to as a penalty king.

The goalkeeper has faced 45 spot kicks in all competitions for Almeria and current side Valencia, and saved an incredible 22 of them. Only 21 were scored, with one off target and one hitting the crossbar.

Against Atletico Madrid earlier today, he saved two penalties in the same game, first denying Antoine Griezmann and then Gabi.

Diego Alves has now saved 18 penalties in LaLiga, more than any other goalkeeper in the competition’s history.

SEE video of his save against Griezmann below:

 

What a great save by Diego Alves, even got the approval from Diego Simeone. pic.twitter.com/MHMaTttuNc

— Sivan John™ (@SivanJohn) October 2, 2016

Unfortunately, despite Alves’ heorics, Valencia went down 2-0, with Griezmann opening the scoring and Kevin Gameiro netting a late second, sending Atletico top of La Liga for the time being.

Speaking after the match, Alves said, “I don’t care about the penalty saves. “I always say when penalties saved help the team win I’m happy, but I’m not when we lose.”

Alves’ heroics in saving penalties have not gone unnoticed by football pundits. See some of their comments below:

 

Diego Alves has saved so many penalties that it must mess with the mind of anybody who steps up against him. Crazy.

— Simon Harrison (@simonhfootball) October 2, 2016

Diego Alves saves another penalty! That’s 18 penalties saved for him in La Liga out of 40. Outstanding.

— Sergi Domínguez (@FutbolSergi) October 2, 2016

That was perhaps the greatest penalty save I’ve ever seen from Diego Alves. How? He’s saved more than 50% of his pens throughout career!!

— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) October 2, 2016

Griezmann penalty saved by a wonder stop from Diego Alves… not a bad penalty at all… but not in the corner and Alves gets a hand to it

— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) October 2, 2016

Diego Alves… You have one job. And you tend to do it well. #VALATM

— M.A.J (@UItraSuristic) October 2, 2016