In a series of shocking events, Lionel Messi has missed another penalty in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Argentine icon has missed a penalty in their ongoing Round of 16 clash against Egypt which is being played at the Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta.
Lionel Messi creates unwanted record
Egypt's Yasser Ibrahim broke the deadlock in the 15th minute by executing a powerful, clinical header. Soon after the first goal, the South American side received a penalty in the 19th minute of the game after Nicolas Tagliafico was brought down inside the penalty area by Haissem Hassan.
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Poor performance from Lionel Messi
Despite having the golden chance to equalize, Lionel Messi's low spot-kick to the bottom-right corner was denied by Egypt's goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, keeping Egypt temporarily ahead 1-0.
After missing the penalty in the ongoing clash against Egypt, Lionel Messi extended his record of missing the most number of matches in World Cup history. Now, Messi has missed four penalties, which is most by any player in the history of the World Cup.
Most number of penalties missed by any player in World Cups:
| Player [1] | Tournament & Match | Goalkeeper / Outcome | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 2018 Russia vs. Iceland | Saved by Hannes Þór Halldórsson | 1-1 Draw |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 2022 Qatar vs. Poland | Saved by Wojciech Szczęsny | 2-0 Win |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 2026 North America vs. Austria | Fired wide | Ongoing Match |
| Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) | 2006 Germany vs. Czech Republic | Missed | 2-0 Win |
| Asamoah Gyan (Ghana) | 2010 South Africa vs. Uruguay | Struck the crossbar in the final minute | 1-1 Draw (Uruguay won on pens) |
Currently, the defending champions are still searching for their first goal at the half-time, it will be interesting to see if Argentina can turn the tables around and win the game at the full time.