Messi’s penalty woes continue as Egypt deny him once again

Lionel Messi suffered another setback from the penalty spot during Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16 in Atlanta. The captain saw his effort saved by Mostafa Shoubir, marking his second missed penalty of the tournament after his earlier failure against Austria in the group stage. Messi had initiated the move that led to the spot‑kick, combining with Enzo Fernández before Nicolás Tagliafico was brought down by Haissen Hassan. Referee François Letexier immediately awarded the penalty, but Shoubir guessed correctly to keep Egypt ahead.

The miss adds to Messi’s unwanted record as the player with the most failed penalties in World Cup history, following previous misses against Iceland in 2018 and Poland in 2022. Despite this streak, Messi’s legacy remains defined by decisive goals, including his clinical contributions during Argentina’s triumphant 2022 campaign. His latest setback ultimately mattered little as Argentina mounted a stirring comeback.