Lionel Messi becomes first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup

Lionel Messi missed two penalty kicks during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first player to fail twice in one tournament. Both misses came in group‑stage matches – first against Austria and later against Egypt, where Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir saved the shot.

The setbacks raise Messi’s total World Cup penalty misses to four, overtaking the previous record held by Asamoah Gyan. Despite the missed opportunities, Messi has scored 20 World Cup goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the competition’s all‑time top scorer and remains a central figure in Argentina’s campaign.