Penalty for Argentina! This is a sentence that we have read or heard a lot since the 2022 World Cup. During their road to the title four years ago, in Qatar, the Albiceleste won a penalty in every match, from the quarter-finals to the final. She also benefited from two penalties in the group stage against Poland. And it’s back at the same pace in 2026.
This Tuesday, the penalty whistled against Egypt in the round of 16 is already the third of the tournament. And this allows Argentina to set a new record. According to statistician MisterChip, never has a team obtained eight penalties over a period of 12 matches in the World Cup.
And Messi a record of missed penalties
However, a penalty for Argentina does not necessarily mean goals. As against Austria in the group stage, Lionel Messi missed his attempt against Egypt. The legendary No. 10 becomes the first player in history to miss two penalties in the same World Cup, excluding penalty shootouts.
Including his failures in 2018 and 2022, Messi has missed a total of four World Cup penalties, out of eight attempted. A poor 50% success rate.
