Lionel Messi can’t stop breaking records at this 2026 World Cup, and his latest Argentina outing was another one for the books — but not the usual greatness.
The Argentine is now the World Cup’s top all-time scorer, has the most knockout starts, is the oldest to score a hat-trick… the list goes on.
But it’s an unwanted record he’s nabbed this time. For the second World Cup game on trot, Messi missed a penalty. Argentina had the chance to draw level midway through the first half after Nicolas Tagliafico went down in the box.
Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir read his mind and palmed away a rather tame effort from 12 yards.
That makes Messi the first player to ever miss two consecutive penalties (excluding shootouts) in World Cup history.
It comes just a week after the 39-year-old became the player with the most misses (now four) from the spot in the competition. That’s from eight attempts.
It’s a rare mark on a usually extraordinary record list. For a player usually automatic in that aspect of the game, it’s a rare dip, and hopefully, not something that continues as he hunts down the Golden Boot.
READ MORE:
Lionel Messi’s reaction during thorough airport security check before World Cup match is priceless
World Cup fan says he understands the ‘obesity’ in US after trying American food
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
