Messi Sets Unwanted World Cup Record Before Cementing Scoring Legacy

Lionel Messi missed a penalty in Argentina’s Group J clash with Austria, becoming the player with the most spot-kicks missed in World Cup history (three) during open play. His slow run-up saw the 38-year-old shank the 9th-minute effort wide, a tally previously shared only with Asamoah Gyan. Despite that setback, Messi bounced back in the 38th minute. He helped finish a slick team move with a left-foot strike to beat Austria’s goalkeeper and push his all-time World Cup goal tally to 17. That landmark overtook Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 16 goals. The match underlined Messi’s unique place in tournament history — both for his misses and his unrivalled scoring feats. The details of these records emerged from recent Opta data and sports reports.

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