It’s unusual for Lionel Messi to have a bad record in his career. But, he just did it at the 2022 World Cup.
Messi started when Argentina had a life-and-death match against Poland at Stadium 974, Thursday (1/12/2022) early morning WIB. Argentina must win if they want to qualify steadily for the last 16.
Playing dominant from the early minutes, Messi et al. frustrated by Poland’s defensive play plus Wojciech Szczesny’s fine form between the sticks.
Even when Argentina had a golden opportunity to take the lead via a penalty in the 38th minute, Szczesny was able to thwart it. He guessed the direction of Messi’s shot to the top left and pushed it away with his right hand.
Fortunately mental Messi et al. not sag and in the second half, they scored two winning goals from Alexis Mac Allister in the 46th minute and Julian Alvarez in the 67th minute.
Argentina qualified as Group C winners with six points followed by Poland with four points. Even though Argentina advanced to the knockout stages, Messi should regret his failure to execute a penalty.
Because he recorded a bad record as the first player whose penalty was pushed over twice by the goalkeeper! Four years ago in Russia, it was Iceland goalkeeper Hanness Halldorson who did it.
Lionel Messi is the first player in HISTORY to have 2 penalties saved in the World Cup ???? pic.twitter.com/LcdbaVtco7
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 30, 2022
Opta noted that Messi has only conceded a penalty at the World Cup once out of three, the worst ratio since 1966 alongside former Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan (both missed out on four).
“I was angry because the penalty was missed, but the team was able to recover after my mistake. We knew the first goal would change the course of the game,” Messi was quoted as saying AP.
Lionel Messi also failed to add to his coffers of goals at the 2022 World Cup which was stuck at number two, along with 11 other players. Can he score against Australia in the Round of 16?
Watch Video “Handsome Pose of Messi and Ronaldo Playing Chess Again“
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