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Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer to ever lace up boots, sent a penalty kick the wrong way in the 8th minute of Argentina’s World Cup group stage match against Austria on June 22. It was the kind of moment that makes you wonder if the football gods have a sense of irony.
The miss wasn’t just a blown chance at an early lead. It set a new record for the most missed penalties in World Cup history, excluding shootouts, bringing Messi’s tally to three. More painfully, it denied the Argentine captain a goal that would have moved him one step closer to surpassing Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals, the all-time mark in men’s tournament history.
The weight of history, one kick at a time
Messi has been here before. His previous two penalty misses in World Cup play already placed him in a tie for the most in tournament history. This third miss gave him sole possession of a record nobody wants.
The miss came early enough in the match that Argentina had plenty of runway to recover. Argentina maintained significant attacking pressure throughout the game against Austria.
Messi entered this tournament chasing Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals, a mark that has stood since the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Messi’s complicated World Cup legacy
Messi won the 2022 tournament in Qatar, after years of heartbreak including a final loss in 2014. Then he came back for 2026. At 38, playing his club football with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi decided he had one more World Cup in him.
Messi has scored more goals and won more individual awards than any reasonable person could catalog. Seven Ballon d’Or trophies. A World Cup winner’s medal. Champions League titles. But World Cup penalties have been a persistent thorn, and now he owns the record for misses in a tournament where margins are razor thin.
Klose’s 16-goal record was built across four World Cups between 2002 and 2014. Messi has been chipping away at it across five tournaments now, starting in 2006.
What this means for Argentina and the tournament ahead
Argentina’s competitive posture throughout the match against Austria suggests the team isn’t rattled. They continued to press and create chances throughout the match.
The 2026 World Cup is hosted across the US, Mexico, and Canada. The penalty miss ensures that every subsequent Messi appearance in this tournament will carry even more weight from fans worldwide.
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