- Messi missed a penalty saved by Mostafa Shobeir, but his magic later helped Argentina overcome a 2-0 deficit to win the match.
- Messi played a key role in the fightback: he provided an assist for Cristian Romero, then scored the equaliser himself, his eighth consecutive World Cup goal.
- Argentina won the match after Messi's contributions, keeping their hopes alive in the tournament.
- This was Messi’s fourth World Cup penalty miss, making him the only player to miss more than one in any World Cup.
- Coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi’s attitude: “Look at his attitude! After the penalty he could have given up … but instead, he asked for the ball again and went for more.”
Lionel Messi's ongoing struggles with penalties were highlighted again during Argentina's match against Egypt, where he missed a crucial spot-kick. This miss marked the second penalty failure for Messi in the tournament, making him the only player to miss more than one penalty in World Cup history.
Despite this setback, Messi's resilience shone through as he led a remarkable comeback, scoring the equalizer and keeping Argentina's hopes alive for a fourth World Cup title. His overall career penalty conversion rate stands at 77 percent, aligning with the global average, yet his four missed penalties in World Cup history remain an unwanted record.
Messi's journey has been marked by emotional highs and lows, including a devastating miss in the 2016 Copa America final that led to a brief retirement from international football. However, his determination to succeed is evident, as he continues to inspire his teammates and fans alike. “Look at his attitude! After the penalty he could have given up... but instead, he asked for the ball again and went for more,” noted a teammate, reflecting on Messi's leadership.
Argentina's performance has been scrutinized, especially in the knockout stages against teams like Egypt and Cape Verde, but Messi's magic remains a beacon of hope for the world champions.
“Messi's penalty was saved by Egypt's Mostafa Shobeir, and Argentina trailed 2-0 with 11 minutes remaining before Messi assisted Cristian Romero and scored the equalizer. Coach Lionel Scaloni said, 'After the penalty he could have given up... but instead he asked for the ball again.'”
