Messi Breaks Records for Most Penalties Taken and Missed in FIFA World Cup History
At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi added another chapter to his story—though this time it was for a record no one hoped he'd break. After missing a penalty against Egypt, Messi became the player with the most penalties taken and missed in FIFA World Cup history, not counting shootouts.
An Unwanted Milestone
Messi's penalty miss early in the Round of 16 match against Egypt marked his eighth penalty attempt during World Cup matches, a milestone no other player had reached before. This miss also brought his total to four failed penalties in regular World Cup play—the highest ever recorded.
He also became the first player to miss two penalties within the same World Cup edition. Earlier in the tournament, he missed a spot-kick against Austria during the group stage.
Details of Messi's Missed Penalties in World Cups
- Russia 2018: Missed penalty vs Iceland
- Qatar 2022: Missed penalty vs Poland
- 2026 FIFA World Cup: Missed penalties vs Austria and Egypt
Despite these misses, Messi has successfully converted many crucial penalties, especially during Qatar 2022, where he scored four penalties en route to Argentina's World Cup triumph.
