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.
