ARGENTINA football legend, Lionel Messi, has set an unwanted record at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup holding simultaneously in the United States (US), Canada and Mexico.
The Barcelona legend scored a brace as La Albiceleste defeated Austria in their second group J match.
Argentina have qualified for the knockout of the tournament and are billed to face Jordan in their last group stage match.
Messi further cemented his legacy as one of football’s greatest players by scoring a brace against Austria to become the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.
The Argentina captain opened the scoring in the 38th minute, calmly placing the ball into the bottom corner after Thiago Almada’s dummy allowed Facundo Medina’s pass to reach him inside the penalty area.
The Inter Miami star then struck deep into stoppage time to seal a thrilling victory at Dallas Stadium on Monday, June 22.
Messi’s double also secured Argentina’s place in the Round of 32, with a game to spare against Jordan on June 28.
He has surpassed former Ghana captain, Asamoah Gyan’s unwanted record for the most penalty misses in FIFA World Cup history.
The 39-year-old reached the milestone after failing to convert from the spot during Argentina’s Group J clash against Austria.
According to Centre Goals, Messi has now missed three penalties at World Cup tournaments, against Iceland in 2018, Poland in 2022 and Austria in 2026.
Gyan previously held the record after missing two penalties during his World Cup career. The first came during Ghana’s famous 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic at the 2006 World Cup.
The second remains one of the most painful moments in Ghanaian football history, when he struck the crossbar from the penalty spot against Uruguay in the dying moments of the 2010 quarter-final.
According to Yahoo Sports, Messi, who has taken more penalties than any player in World Cup history with seven, has now scored four and missed three, with two saved and one fired off target during his appearances at the tournament.
