Lionel Messi stays Argentina's penalty taker despite World Cup misses

At 39, Lionel Messi has remained a central figure for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring eight goals to tie France’s Kylian Mbappé for the tournament lead. Despite missing two spot‑kicks – one against Austria in the group stage and another versus Egypt in the round‑of‑16 – head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed Messi will continue as the team's first‑choice penalty taker unless the captain decides otherwise. Scaloni said, “As long as he wants to keep playing, he'll be the best,” and praised Messi’s physical preparation, calling him “a machine.”

Messi’s performances helped Argentina overturn a 2‑0 deficit to beat Egypt 3‑2, securing a quarter‑final against Switzerland. The coach also highlighted the Swiss team’s experience and physical strength, noting the upcoming match will be a tough test for the Albiceleste.

Both the Argentine and Swiss squads are preparing for the decisive quarter‑final, while Messi’s penalty role remains a subject of debate among fans and analysts.