The Argentina captain’s ninth-minute miss created a unique FIFA World Cup record, adding to a record that is now close to his own.Lionel Messi finally scored not only the two goals that made him the greatest scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup, but before reaching this showdown against Austria on Monday, the Argentina captain added his name to a very different section of the record.The 39th-minute goal that put Argentina ahead in their Group J match saw Lionel Messi reach 17 World Cup goals, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose. He then added a second stoppage time, to 18 and extending his lead as the top scorer in World Cup history in both men’s and women’s competitions. Messi now has five goals in just two games at the 2026 tournament, following his hat-trick on the opening day against Algeria. With this 2-0 victory, Argentina secured their place in the knockout stage, where Messi also equaled the records of France’s Just Fontaine, the legendary player who scored 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup, and Brazil’s Jairzinho, the most important player in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup victory who scored in every game of the tournament. He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, proving his consistency at football’s biggest level.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, center, scores the opening goal during the Group J World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
However the most impressive numbers of the afternoon came early as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner missed a penalty which, for a short time, delayed his pursuit of the record.That miss didn’t just delay history. It proved that Messi is the holder of two different World Cup penalties, one showing his longevity and Argentina’s deep run in the game, the other showing the difficult relationship with penalties at football’s biggest stage.
How the missed penalty turned out
The chance came in the ninth minute after a late VAR review. Lautaro Martínez broke the penalty spot before being challenged by Austria’s Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch. While Schlager appeared to make contact with the ball, the officials determined that Posch’s challenge on Martínez deserved a penalty after reviewing the incident.Play continued for a minute as Martínez remained on the court as the referee stopped the action and asked the referee.The decision gave Messi the opportunity to score his 17th World Cup goal and immediately dislodge Klose.Instead, his left-footed effort went wide of the right.
Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) dives for the ball as Argentina’s Lionel Messi’s ball goes wide during the Group J World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
At the time, Messi joined Klose on 16 World Cup goals. More importantly for statistical purposes, he registered the third penalty miss of his World Cup career.
Messi now has two World Cup bans
The miss against Austria was Messi’s seventh attempt in a regular World Cup match, including a shootout.No player in the history of the tournament has taken more.It was also his third missed penalty, which saw him move past Ghanaian veteran Asamoah Gyan and give him a shot at another World Cup record.Messi stands alone as the player with the most penalties conceded and the most penalties missed in FIFA World Cup history, including shootouts.His overall record currently stands at four successful conversions from seven attempts.Ahead of Monday’s game, Messi shared the unenviable record of most misses with Gyan, whose two misses came against the Czech Republic in 2006 and in one of the most spectacular moments in World Cup history against Uruguay in the quarterfinals of 2010. This time, after Luis Suárez handled the ball on the goal line and was sent off, Gyan scored the next goal in extra time, denying Ghana a place in the semi-finals.Messi’s miss against Austria allowed him to overtake Gyan for the record alone.
The story of the World Cup penalty that lasts three rounds
What makes this record even more impressive is that it was held in three World Cups. Messi’s first World Cup penalty came against Iceland in Russia 2018. With Argentina level at 1-1, his effort was saved by goalkeeper Hannes Halldórsson.Four years later in Qatar, he turned to Saudi Arabia before facing another setback when Polish player Wojciech Szczęsny rejected him during the group stage.The rest of the race changed his penalty record.Messi converted against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, Croatia in the semi-finals and France in the final, scoring three crucial goals in Argentina’s title-winning campaign.Against Austria in 2026, another miss was added to the list.His World Cup campaign now includes performances against Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Croatia and France, along with Iceland, Poland and Austria.These numbers show a strange difference. Messi has been one of the most prolific goalscorers in the competition’s history, yet penalties often represent one of the few areas where danger is evident.
Where Cristiano Ronaldo and other greats are
Messi’s number of penalties separates him from almost any other player in World Cup history.Cristiano Ronaldo, who is often compared to Lionel Messi at the age of 20, has scored three of his four World Cup penalties.The Portugal captain scored against Iran in 2006, Spain in 2018 and Ghana in 2022. His only miss came after the 2018 tournament when Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved his effort in a 1-1 draw.Ronaldo finished his World Cup career with three goals and one miss in four attempts.Several other notable players also feature in the history of the tournament’s penalties:
- England captain Harry Kane has taken five World Cup penalties, scoring four and missing one.
- Portugal great Eusébio converted all four of his World Cup penalties without a miss.
- Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta also scored all four tries.
- Netherlands midfielder Rob Rensenbrink also maintained a good record, converting four penalties from four attempts.
Messi’s seven attempts are unmatched, while his four successful conversions put him alongside some of the best penalty takers ever seen.
A reputation built on longevity and luck
The reason why Messi holds both records is not that they are right or wrong, but it reflects the longevity, luck and success of Argentina in several competitions.Monday’s game against Austria was his 28th FIFA World Cup appearance and came in his sixth World Cup campaign. Less than a week earlier, he scored a hat-trick against Algeria in his 200th international match, exactly 20 years since his first World Cup appearance.Few players have played enough World Cup matches to earn the chance of seven penalties. Few have done this while still at the helm of their team for nearly two decades.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi leaves during the Group J World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Longevity has placed Messi in a special category of statistics.Before half time against Austria, his momentary penalty miss set an unnecessary record. But he quickly responded, breaking the all-time men’s World Cup record with his 17th goal in the 39th minute, and, just inside stoppage time, adding an 18th to extend his lead and seal a 2-0 victory for Argentina.The scoring record will dominate the headlines. The penalty record, however, provides a sobering reminder that even the most successful World Cup campaign ever produced had moments of disappointment alongside moments of greatness.In Messi’s case, it all happened in the same afternoon.