Lionel Messi misses early penalty in FIFA World Cup match against Austria

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jun 22, 2026, 5:21 PM

Last updated Jun 22, 2026

Lionel Messi misses early penalty in FIFA World Cup match against Austria
Summary

In the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup match on June 22 in Arlington, Texas, Lionel Messi had the chance to become the all-time leader in World Cup goals. Argentina was awarded a penalty in the opening minutes, but Messi missed the shot, sending it wide right. The miss sparked criticism on social media, with fans expressing disbelief at the miss, questioning Messi's performance under pressure. Despite this setback, Argentina's chances in the match remain intact.

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By the Numbers
  • Messi entered the match with 16 World Cup goals.
  • The penalty opportunity came in the opening minutes.
  • Critics labeled the miss one of the worst penalties.
  • Argentina's position in the tournament remains unchanged for now.
Latest Updates
  • 5:21 PMYahoo Sports‘This is the king of your sport?’: Criticism mounts after Lionel Messi comes up short in biggest moment of his career
What they're saying
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Lionel Messi entered Monday’s 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup match between Argentina and Austria with the opportunity to etch his name into the history books and become the sole leader in World Cup goals scored. He entered the day with 16 goals scored in the legendary event, and it didn’t take long for him to…

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