Lionel Messi etched his name into the FIFA World Cup record books once again on Monday, but this time for a statistic he would rather forget.
The Argentina captain set an unwanted World Cup record after missing a penalty during his side’s Group J encounter against Austria in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The miss marked the third penalty failure of Messi’s World Cup career in regulation time, making him the player with the most missed penalties in the tournament’s history, excluding penalty shootouts.
The setback saw the 38-year-old move ahead of former Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan, who missed two penalties during his World Cup appearances.
Messi Misses Chance To Make History
Messi entered the match with an opportunity to achieve another historic milestone.
The Argentine superstar needed just one goal to move clear of Germany legend Miroslav Klose and become the outright highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. Both players currently share the record with 16 goals.
However, Messi was unable to seize the moment after sending his penalty effort wide, leaving the all-time scoring record untouched for now.
The miss came as a surprise given Messi’s reputation for delivering in high-pressure situations throughout his illustrious international career.
Unwanted World Cup Record
While Messi has broken numerous records during his World Cup journey, including becoming Argentina’s most-capped player and leading his nation to World Cup glory, this latest milestone is one he would prefer to avoid.
His three missed penalties in World Cup matches now stand as the highest tally by any player in tournament history outside of shootouts.
Despite the disappointment, the Argentine captain remains one of the competition’s most influential figures and still has opportunities to rewrite the record books in a positive way during the remainder of the tournament.
Messi’s World Cup Legacy Remains Intact
The penalty miss is unlikely to overshadow what has been a remarkable World Cup career.
Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, Messi has delivered numerous memorable performances across multiple editions of the tournament and remains central to Argentina’s ambitions in the 2026 competition.
With the knockout stages approaching, the veteran forward will be eager to put the missed opportunity behind him and focus on helping Argentina progress deeper into the tournament.
What Next For Messi?
Although the missed penalty denied him a chance to become the sole holder of the World Cup scoring record, Messi remains level with Miroslav Klose on 16 goals and could still surpass the German icon in upcoming matches.
Argentina’s remaining fixtures will provide further opportunities for the legendary forward to add to his tally and continue his pursuit of yet another historic achievement.
For now, however, Messi finds himself holding an unexpected World Cup record after a rare miss from the penalty spot.