Messi Sets World Cup Penalty Record but Scores Twice in Argentina's Win

Lionel Messi became the player with the most missed penalties in World Cup history during Argentina's victory over Austria, though his performance was ultimately defined by his scoring prowess. Before netting two goals in the 2-0 win, the Argentine captain missed a penalty kick, bringing his total to three missed attempts in World Cups.

Messi had previously missed penalties against Iceland in 2018 and Poland in 2022. His miss against Austria surpassed the record previously held by Ghana's Asamoah Gyan, who had missed two penalties in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. This unwanted record came before Messi's decisive contributions to the match.

However, Messi quickly redeemed himself. He opened the scoring after a pass from Facundo Medina and a clever play by Thiago Almada, who let the ball go for Messi to finish. In second-half stoppage time, he sealed the victory by scoring Argentina's second goal following a play he initiated and a series of rebounds.

These two goals not only secured Argentina's win but also elevated Messi to the status of the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals. He had entered the match tied for the top spot and now stands alone, extending his lead over closest competitor Kylian Mbappé, who has 14 goals. Messi's World Cup goals are spread across six tournaments, with his most prolific performance being seven goals in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.