Lionel Messi failed to reach a historic World Cup milestone on Tuesday, missing a crucial penalty during Argentina’s match against Austria. The failure, which occurred in the first minutes of the clash in Dallas, United States, postponed his chance of becoming the greatest single scorer in the history of the football world cup. The Argentine number 10 is already tied with German Miroslav Klose, both with 16 goals.
The penalty shot and VAR intervention
Six minutes into the first half, striker Lautaro Martínez received the ball in the area and was brought down in a play with Austrian defender Posch. Referee Amin Mohamed Omar initially did not award the penalty, but was alerted by VAR to review the move on the monitor. After analysis, the decision was confirmed: penalty in favor of the Argentine team, generating great expectations in the stadium.
Kick out prevents Klose from overcoming artillery
With the ball in the corner, Messi had the opportunity to score his 17th goal in World Cups and thus surpass Miroslav Klose, becoming the isolated top scorer in football’s most prestigious tournament. However, the Argentine star’s shot went wide, to the right of the goal defended by Schlager, who hit the corner but did not need to intervene. The ball didn’t even require defense, to the frustration of the fans and the player himself.
The relevance of the record and Messi’s trajectory in World Cups
Miroslav Klose’s record, set in 2014, represents a feat of longevity and consistency. Messi, in his fifth World Cup, has sought to surpass this mark, which symbolizes not only individual talent, but the ability to perform at the highest level in different editions of the tournament. With each goal, he consolidates himself among the greatest names in the history of the sport, and the pursuit of this record adds an extra chapter to his already legendary career.
Reaction from the Argentine team after the initial error
After the wasted penalty, Argentina continued exchanging passes in midfield, while Austria kept its defense closed, seeking to contain the South American team’s attacks. In the moments that followed, the Argentine team tried to reorganize itself and maintain offensive pressure. The first effective arrival of the match occurred before the penalty, with a shot by Almada out wide, which had already been disallowed for offside.
The impact on the start of Argentina’s journey in the tournament
A missed penalty in the first minutes of a World Cup game, especially with the historical burden it carried for Messi, can have a significant impact on the dynamics of the match and the team’s confidence. Although the score remained zero, the pressure on Argentina to seek victory intensified. This start to the game adds a dramatic element to Argentina’s group stage campaign, with the team needing to react to ensure a strong performance in the tournament.