Lionel Messi added another chapter to his World Cup story on Tuesday — but not the one fans wanted. For the second time at this year’s World Cup, the Argentina captain was denied from the penalty spot, this time in a tense Round of 16 clash against Egypt in Atlanta.
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Lionel Messi Creates Unwanted World Cup Penalty Record in the Win Against Egypt: What Happened?
Messi became the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties at a single edition, excluding shootouts, after Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir guessed correctly and parried his effort away. The miss came in the 20th minute, with Argentina already trailing 1-0 following an early goal from Egypt’s Yasser Ibrahim. Earlier in the tournament, Messi had also failed to convert a penalty during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in the group stage.
The Record Books
Messi has now missed four penalties across all World Cups, extending his own record for the most misses in the tournament’s history. Excluding shootouts, only four of his eight World Cup penalties have found the net.
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Penalties missed (2026 edition) | 2 |
| Career World Cup penalty misses | 4 |
| Conversion rate | 50% |
| Opponent goalkeeper | Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt) |
Bigger Picture
Despite the spot-kick struggles, Messi remains among the tournament’s top scorers this edition and continues leading Argentina through the knockout stage. Argentina made a late comeback to win the Round of 16 match 3-2 against Egypt and qualify for the quarter-finals. For full standings and fixtures, check the official FIFA World Cup 2026 site.
For more World Cup drama and Messi coverage, explore our related stories on Argentina’s World Cup 2026 journey and the latest football transfer news on TechnoSports.
