The Argentina captain’s ninth-minute error created a unique moment in World Cup history and set a statistical record alongside his extraordinary goal-scoring exploitsLionel Messi ended up scoring not just one, but two goals to make him the top scorer in FIFA World Cup history, but before reaching those milestones against Austria on Monday, the Argentina captain added his name to a very different part of the record books.Messi’s 39th-minute goal in Group J gave Argentina the lead, taking Messi’s tally to 17 World Cup goals and overtaking Germany’s Miroslav Klose. He then added another in injury time to take his tally to 18 and extend his lead as the top scorer in both men’s and women’s World Cup history. After scoring a hat-trick in the opening game against Algeria, Messi has now scored five goals in just two games at the 2026 World Cup. With this 2-0 victory, Argentina officially secured their place in the knockout rounds, and Messi tied the record held by legendary French forward Juste Fontaine (who scored 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup) and Brazil’s Jairzinho (Brazil scored in every game in the 1970 World Cup). He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup games, underscoring his remarkable consistency on football’s biggest stage.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (center) scores the first goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
However, the most interesting statistic of the afternoon came earlier, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner missing a penalty that briefly delayed his pursuit of a goalscoring record.That misstep did more than just postpone history. It makes Messi the outright holder of two World Cup penalty records, one that reflects his longevity and Argentina’s repeated World Cup exploits, and the other that highlights the surprisingly complex relationship between penalties and penalties on football’s biggest stage.
How the missed penalty unfolded
The chance came in the ninth minute after a lengthy VAR review. Lautaro Martinez broke into the penalty area and was subsequently challenged by Austrian players Javier Schrager and Stefan Bosh. Although Schrager appeared to have made contact with the ball, referees reviewed the incident and deemed Bosh’s challenge on Martinez worthy of a penalty.The fight lasted just over a minute, with Martinez remaining on the turf until the referee finally stopped play and consulted the courtside monitor.The decision gave Messi the chance to score his 17th World Cup goal and immediately break away from Kroos.Instead, his left-footed shot missed the right post.
Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) pounces on Argentina’s Lionel Messi during the World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria on Monday, June 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
At this time, Messi is still tied with Klose for 16 goals in the World Cup. More importantly, in terms of statistical history, he missed a penalty for just the third time in his World Cup career.
Messi currently holds two World Cup penalty kick records
The goal conceded against Austria was Messi’s seventh penalty attempt in a normal World Cup match, not including shootouts.No other player in the history of the game has achieved so much.It also became his third unsuccessful penalty, freeing him from former Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan and leaving him alone with another World Cup record.As a result, Messi is now the player who has missed the most penalties in FIFA World Cup history (excluding penalty shootouts).His overall record currently stands at four successful conversions in seven attempts.Before Monday’s game, Messi shared the record for most errors with Gian, whose two errors came against the Czech Republic in 2006 and against Uruguay in the 2010 quarter-finals in one of the most dramatic moments in World Cup history. In that match, Gyan hit the penalty kick over the crossbar in the final moments of extra time to deny Ghana a place in the semi-finals after Luis Suarez handled the ball on the goal line and was sent off.Messi’s miss against Austria moved him past Gian as the only person to hold this record.
The story of World Cup penalty kicks spanning three tournaments
What’s particularly remarkable about this record is that it spanned three World Cups. Messi’s first World Cup penalty came against Iceland at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Argentina were tied 1-1 and his shot was saved by goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.Four years later he scored against Saudi Arabia in Qatar but suffered another setback in the group stages when Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny blocked his shot.The rest of that game changed the narrative for his penalty.Messi scored the three most important goals in Argentina’s championship against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Croatia in the semi-finals and France in the final.Against Austria in 2026, there is another miss on the list.His World Cup penalty record includes successful penalties against Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Croatia and France, as well as missed penalties against Iceland, Poland and Austria.The figures show an unusual contrast. Messi has become one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the competition, but penalties are often one of the few areas where there are occasional holes.
Cristiano Ronaldo and other greats ranked
The sheer number of penalties Messi has taken sets him apart from almost any other player in World Cup history.Cristiano Ronaldo, who has often been compared to Lionel Messi during his two-decade international career, has scored three goals from four penalties at the World Cup.The Portuguese captain has scored against Iran in 2006, Spain in 2018 and Ghana in 2022. His only goal conceded came late in the 2018 World Cup when Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved his shot in a 1-1 draw.Ronaldo thus ended his World Cup career with 3 goals and 4 penalty kicks, missing 1 penalty.Several other legendary players also figure prominently in the tournament’s free throw record:
- England captain Harry Kane took five penalties at the World Cup, scoring four and missing one.
- Portuguese star Eusebio hit all four penalty kicks in the World Cup without missing a single one.
- Argentina forward Gabriel Batistuta also scored on all four shots.
- Dutch forward Rob Rensenbrink also maintains a perfect record, having made four of his four free throws.
Messi’s total of seven shots remains unrivaled, while his four successful penalties put him alongside the World Cup’s most effective penalty takers.
A record built on longevity and opportunity
The reason Messi holds these two records isn’t just accurate or inaccurate, it largely reflects his longevity, opportunity and Argentina’s continued success in multiple competitions.Monday’s match against Austria marks his 28th World Cup appearance, a FIFA record in his sixth appearance. Less than a week ago, he scored a hat-trick against Algeria in his 200th international cap, 20 years after his first World Cup appearance.Few players can accumulate seven penalties in a World Cup match. Even fewer players have remained central to the national team’s attack for nearly two decades.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi leaves the field after the World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria on Monday, June 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Messi’s longevity puts him in a unique statistical category.His penalty miss briefly set an unpopular record just before half-time against Austria. But he responded quickly, scoring the 17th goal in the 39th minute, breaking the men’s World Cup scoring record, and scoring the 18th goal in stoppage time to further expand the lead and help Argentina win 2-0.Goalscoring records will inevitably dominate the headlines. Yet the penalty record is a fascinating reminder that even the most accomplished World Cup career ever has its moments of frustration as well as its moments of greatness.In Messi’s case, both events happened on the same afternoon.
