Messi's Third World Cup Penalty Miss
Lionel Messi set a dubious record during Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria, missing his third World Cup penalty. This miss makes him the player with the most missed penalties in World Cup matches, excluding shootouts, according to match statistics.
VAR Leads to Penalty Opportunity
The penalty was awarded after a VAR review, when Lautaro Martínez was fouled inside the box. Messi stepped up to take the spot kick in the 8th minute but failed to convert, adding to his tally of missed penalties in World Cup competitions.
Despite Miss, Messi Shines
Despite the penalty miss, Messi scored two goals in the match, securing Argentina's place in the knockout stages. His performance further cemented his World Cup legacy, though the missed penalty denied him the chance to become the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscorer.
Previous Penalty Misses
Messi previously missed penalties against Iceland in 2018 and Poland in 2022. With this third miss, he now holds the unwanted record for most missed penalties in World Cup history (excluding shootouts).
Missed Opportunity for History
Scoring the penalty would have made Messi the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. Instead, the miss awarded him a different, less flattering record.
