Lionel Messi continues to solidify his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time during the 2026 World Cup, leading Argentina deep into the knockout rounds. In a thrilling match against Egypt in the last 16, Messi showcased his brilliance by scoring and assisting, helping Argentina come back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

However, amidst his record-breaking achievements, a concerning trend has emerged regarding his penalty-taking. Messi missed two penalties during this tournament, including one against Egypt that was saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. His overall World Cup penalty record stands at just four out of eight successful attempts, raising questions about his reliability from the spot.

Key highlights include:

• Messi became the oldest player to score and assist in a World Cup match.
• He broke the record for all-time assists in World Cup history, surpassing Diego Maradona.
• Despite his success in open play, Messi's 77% conversion rate from penalties is below the average of elite players like Harry Kane (90.7%) and Cristiano Ronaldo (85.2%).

Messi himself expressed regret about his penalty misses, stating, "I cried because I felt that I let my team-mates down." His unique improvisational style, which makes him a formidable player in open play, may hinder his consistency from the penalty spot, as he often varies his approach.

Despite the misses, Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni remains confident in Messi's ability to take penalties, asserting, "Leo will take penalties if he wants to."

As the tournament progresses, the debate intensifies: should Argentina consider other options for penalties, especially with the stakes becoming higher? With Argentina awarded the most penalties in the last two World Cups, the pressure mounts for Messi to convert when it counts.