NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Every time Lionel Messi has touched the field at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he has made history, and that was certainly true in Argentina’s 3-2 comeback against Egypt in the round of 16 on Tuesday, where he scored and assisted to become the tournament’s all-time assists leader.
However, Messi also set another record on Tuesday, one he surely hopes will be eclipsed in his lifetime.
With Argentina trailing 1-0 after a 15th-minute goal from Egyptian centre-back Yasser Ibrahim, Argentine full-back Nicolás Tagliafico scored a penalty that set the stage for Messi to be the hero again.
Instead, Messi saw his penalty attempt saved by Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Ahmed Shobeir, keeping the match 1-0 in favor of Egypt. The miss made Messi the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Messi now has one miss, three saves and four conversions in his eight career penalty attempts, excluding the shootout.
Fortunately for Messi, Argentina prevailed and scored three goals in the final 11 minutes plus stoppage time to complete a 3-2 comeback win over Egypt and cement their place in the quarter-finals. Messi and Argentina will now face the winner of Switzerland vs. Colombia on Saturday at Kansas City Stadium.
