In Argentina’s second game in the group stage of the World Cup, Lionel Messi starred in an unexpected moment by missing a penalty in the 7th minute against Austria.
The albiceleste had the opportunity to open the scoring early, but the Argentine captain failed to convert from the penalty spot, which generated surprise in the Dallas stadium.
Messi took the shot with his characteristic style, trying to place the ball next to the left post of Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. However, the shot went wide, going over the side of the post and denying the Argentine star the goal. Schlager had correctly anticipated the direction of the shot, although in the end he did not have to intervene.
The ruling marked the 35th missed penalty in Lionel Messi’s career, an unusual figure for a player of his category. Furthermore, the error prevented him from reaching a new milestone in his career: becoming the top scorer in the history of the World Cup.
This was the third penalty missed by Lionel Messi in the World Cups. With that miss from eleven meters, the Argentine missed the opportunity to become the top scorer in the history of the World Cups. Currently, he shares that mark with the German Miroslav Klose, both with 16 goals.
Florencia Peña made Messi miss the penalty.pic.twitter.com/m4vAWI6qZB
— SoybienAlex (@SoybienAlex) June 22, 2026