Lionel Messi's Frustration After Penalty Miss in World Cup Match Against Austria

Messi's Anger Over Missed Penalty

Even the usually composed Lionel Messi experienced frustration during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Austria, held on Monday night according to Indian time. Following the game, he openly expressed his disappointment over missing a penalty.

Despite leaving the pitch with a smile, Messi reflected, "There was a moment today when I was very angry. I missed the penalty. I took a very poor shot. Fortunately, we managed to recover from that situation and secured three crucial points."

Close to a Hat-Trick

After achieving a hat-trick in Argentina's opening World Cup match against Algeria, Messi was on the verge of repeating this success against Austria. However, in the 9th minute, he missed a penalty kick, sending a low shot with his left foot wide of the goalkeeper's left side.

Messi eventually found the net in the 38th minute and added another goal during stoppage time, bringing his total World Cup goals to 18. This milestone allowed him to surpass former German striker Miroslav Klose, making him the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Had he converted the penalty, he would have set a new record for consecutive hat-tricks.

Penalty Misses: A Recurring Issue

While Messi's talent is unquestionable, he has developed a reputation for struggling with penalty kicks. He notably missed a penalty during the 2022 World Cup against Poland and also failed to score from the spot in the 2018 World Cup. This unfortunate trend marks his third consecutive World Cup where he has missed a penalty.