Lionel Messi misses penalty in Argentina’s clash against Austria
Lionel Messi missed a penalty for Argentina against Austria on Monday, spurning the chance to move ahead of Miroslav Klose with 17 World Cup goals to his name, reports BritPanorama.
The 38-year-old was awarded a penalty after Lautaro Martinez was fouled in the box by Stefan Posch, with referee Amin Mohamed Omar confirming the decision following a lengthy VAR check.
However, Messi’s shot failed to find the target, sailing wide of the post, marking his third missed penalty from seven attempts in World Cup history. His previous failures occurred in matches against Iceland and Poland during the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, respectively.
Reactions to Messi’s miss flooded social media, with one user expressing disbelief, stating, “Unbelievable. Was never a penalty in the first place,” while another remarked, “Even the goat is human.” BBC pundit Danny Murphy commented, “I had no doubt that Lionel Messi was going to score; I was just waiting for it to nestle. Maybe breaking the record is meant for a better goal.”
Messi recently equalled Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals by scoring a hat trick against Algeria in his last match. His first World Cup goal came in 2006, and he has had a mixed record in subsequent tournaments, with his standout performance being the victorious campaign in Qatar, where he netted seven goals.
Argentina entered this match against Austria as favourites, but Messi’s absence from the scoresheet amid a challenging performance from Ralf Rangnick’s side has added to the uncertainty of their progression. The team’s capacity to secure back-to-back victories remains to be seen.
In the world of football, as the line between celebration and disappointment often blurs, Messi’s experience serves as a reminder of the fragile nature of sporting greatness — a fleeting moment where even legends can falter.
