Lionel Messi missed out on a chance to score from the penalty spot for the second time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup early against Egypt in the Round of 16.
Messi tried to beat Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir with a kick low and right but had it punched away just prior to the first-half hydration break. The 39-year-old midfielder missed the net entirely on a penalty against Austria in the group round.
Argentina is currently tied Egypt 2-2 in the second half. You can watch the Round of 16 match LIVE NOW on TSN, TSN.ca and the TSN App.
Messi remains tied with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race as all three have seven goals. England’s Harry Kane also remains in the race with six goals ahead of the quarter-finals.
Messi also entered the game as the all-time leader in FIFA World Cup goals with 20 to Mbappe’s 19.
Messi has scored in all four of Argentina’s games entering the Round of 16 clash.
He opened with a hat trick against Algeria in the team’s first group-round game, burned Austria for two goals and then entered as a substitute to score on Jordan. In the Round of 32, he scored the opening goal against Cabo Verde in a difficult 3-2 extra time victory.
