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  "path": "/2026/06/22/lionel-messi-sets-unwanted-world-cup-record-missed-penalty-28881946/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-22T17:31:04.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Lionel Messi",
    "World Cup",
    "Austria",
    "Sign up",
    "pic.twitter.com/TCf0LqQMc4",
    "June 22, 2026",
    "Sunderland",
    "Luis Suarez",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source",
    "@BBCMOTD"
  ],
  "textContent": "Lionel Messi has missed more than anyone else from the spot at the World Cup (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nLionel Messi has written himself into the record books yet again, with one incredible piece of World Cup history and one he would rather not have.\n\nThe 38-year-old is still going strong for Argentina, scoring a hat-trick in their opening 3-0 win over Algeria at his summer’s World Cup.\n\nHe was in the starting XI again on Monday as the defending champions took on Austria in Arlington.\n\nThe Inter Miami star had the chance to score early on after Lautaro Martinez was felled in the penalty area, with the referee eventually pointing to the spot after a lengthy VAR intervention.\n\n##  Don't miss a World Cup moment\n\nLionel Messi’s hat-trick. Cape Verde’s heroics. Those Scottish fans.\n\nIt’s been a memorable World Cup so far – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up.\n\nA goal would have put Messi clear with the most goals ever scored in World Cups, ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose who he shares the record with on 16.\n\nInstead the Barcelona legend sent his spot-kick wide and set a record that he would rather not have on his CV.\n\nMessi has now missed more penalties at the World Cup (outside of shootouts) than any other player, failing from the spot three times.\n\n> MESSI MISSES! 😮\n>\n> The Argentina captain doesn't convert an early opportunity to become the all-time top World Cup scorer from the spot! pic.twitter.com/TCf0LqQMc4\n>\n> — Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 22, 2026\n\nHis disappointment did not last long, though, as he put his side ahead on 39 minutes with a classy finish, taking his World Cup tally to 17 and becoming the greatest goal-scorer in the tournament’s history.\n\nThe goal was his 121st for Argentina, with the second-highest scorer in his country’s history being Gabriel Batistuta with 56.\n\nMessi’s miss against Austria was his third in World Cups, putting him clear of Asamoah Gyan, who missed two for Ghana.\n\nThose came against Czech Republic in 2006 and, more memorably, against Uruguay in the 2010 quarter-finals.\n\nAsamoah Gyan missed a crucial penalty 16 years ago in South Africa (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nThe former Sunderland striker was given the chance to send his country into the semis late in extra-time when Luis Suarez had handled the ball on the goalline.\n\nGyan hit the crossbar and Uruguay went on to win the shootout, after Suarez wildly celebrated the miss from the touchline.\n\nMessi missed from the spot against Iceland in 2018 and Poland in 2022, now missing a third from seven World Cup penalties.\n\nMessi eventually opened the scoring anyway (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nTaking seven penalties at World Cups is also a record for the Argentina icon.\n\nNo player other than Messi and Gyan has missed more than one penalty at World Cups, although there are players who are only one miss from joining them on that stat this summer.\n\nNotably England captain Harry Kane, after he missed from the spot against France in the quarter-finals in Qatar four years ago.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Lionel Messi sets legendary and unwanted World Cup records in same match"
}