Messi quickly responds with brilliant goal after penalty miss

Lionel Messi endured a rare setback after missing a penalty in Argentina’s FIFA World Cup clash against Austria, only to immediately redeem himself with a stunning goal that gave his side a 1-0 lead in Dallas.

The incident came early in the match when Lautaro Martínez was brought down inside the box, prompting the referee to award a penalty after a VAR review. However, Messi’s spot-kick went wide, marking the first missed penalty of the current World Cup.

The miss also added to an unwanted record for the Argentina captain, taking his total to three missed penalties in World Cup history. He had previously failed to convert from the spot against Iceland in 2018 and Poland in 2022, surpassing Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan for the most missed penalties in the tournament’s history.

Despite the disappointment, Messi responded swiftly, scoring a brilliant goal shortly after to restore confidence and silence doubts. His clinical finish sparked celebrations among Argentina supporters at the stadium in Dallas.

Football legend Mario Kempes, who led Argentina to their 1978 World Cup triumph and won the Golden Boot in that tournament, was also present in the stands to witness the high-profile encounter.