'He is human' - Messi misses from the spot as he chases scoring record

Lionel Messi badly misses a penalty against Austria that would have made him the all-time World Cup record goalscorer.

In a World Cup group stage match between Argentina and Austria, all eyes were on Lionel Messi. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner needed just one goal to surpass German legend Miroslav Klose and become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. But fate had a cruel twist in store. In the 65th minute, Argentina were awarded a penalty. Messi took a deep breath, ran up, and struck the ball—but it soared high over the crossbar, crashing into the advertising boards. The Austrian goalkeeper didn't even need to dive. Messi dropped to his knees in disbelief, his head in his hands, as teammates rushed to console him. The missed penalty not only denied Messi a historic moment but also complicated Argentina's path to the knockout stages. After the match, Messi admitted in the mixed zone: 'I'm very disappointed, but that's football. I'll keep working hard to help the team go further.' Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni defended his star: 'Messi gives everything for the team. Missing a penalty happens; he is still the best player in the world.' Social media erupted with mixed reactions. Some joked 'Messi is human too,' while others worried about Argentina's attacking efficiency. But many expressed understanding, given that Messi, at 34, has been playing under immense physical and mental strain. Statistics show that Messi's World Cup penalty conversion rate is only 75%, below his career average. Tactically, Argentina's over-reliance on Messi was once again exposed. Despite dominating possession with 65%, Argentina's shot conversion rate was poor. Apart from Messi's penalty, other players wasted several chances. Ángel Di María and Lautaro Martínez were off-color, failing to provide adequate support. History has a way of repeating itself. In the 2014 World Cup final, Messi missed a one-on-one chance, and Argentina ended up as runners-up. Now, a similar script seems to be unfolding. However, Messi's career is full of stories of rising from adversity. In his first World Cup in 2006, he came off the bench; in 2010, he failed to score; in 2014, he lost the final; in 2018, Argentina were eliminated in the round of 16. Each setback made him stronger. For Argentine fans, they still believe Messi can lead the team to glory. After all, the 2021 Copa América victory proved that this Argentina team is no longer a one-man show. Next, Argentina face their final group stage opponent. Can Messi adjust his mindset and answer his critics with goals? We'll have to wait and see. Regardless, Messi's greatness does not need records to be validated. He is already one of the brightest stars in football history. A missed penalty is just a minor episode in his legendary career. True heroes always rise after falling.

'He is human' - Messi misses from the spot as he chases scoring record

Related Matches