Messi misses – Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick wide right in the 12th minute of Argentina’s June 22 group match against Austria, after VAR awarded the spot for a foul involving Lautaro Martinez. Earlier in the 2026 World Cup, Messi scored a hat trick against Algeria to re
ARLINGTON, Texas — Lionel Messi will have to wait a bit longer for the World Cup goals record.
In Argentina’s group stage game against Austria on Monday. June 22. the 38-year-old missed a penalty kick wide right in the 12th minute. The spot kick had been awarded after VAR determined a foul was committed on Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez. who went down for a few moments after the collision in the box but remained in the game.
It was the third penalty kick miss of Messi’s World Cup career. He also missed against Iceland in the 2018 World Cup and Poland in 2022. Across World Cup penalty kicks, he has three misses to four penalty kick goals.
A separate moment was already setting the record chase in motion. After opening the 2026 World Cup with a hat trick against Algeria. Messi raised his World Cup goals total to 16. tying former Germany forward Miroslav Klose. Barring an unforeseen early exit from the reigning World Cup champions. he’ll have multiple chances to break the record in what is likely the final World Cup of his career.
The penalty miss sits beside a wider scoring résumé that stretches far beyond international play. Messi, the all-time record holder for club goals across his career at FC Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami, is 116-for-148 on penalty kick conversions outside of international play.
A look at the World Cup goals leaders shows where Messi stands as the campaign continues: Miroslav Klose. Germany (16) and Lionel Messi. Argentina (16) are tied for first. Ronaldo, Brazil (15) follows in third, with Gerd Muller, West Germany (14), and Kylian Mbappe, France (14) tied next. Just Fontaine. France (13) is at seven. Pele. Brazil (12) at eight. and Sandor Kocsis. Hungary (11). and Jurgen Klinsmann. West Germany/Germany (11) tied at eight. Helmut Rahn, Gary Lineker, Gabriel Batistusta, Harry Kane, Teofilo Cubillas, Thomas Muller, and Grzegorz Lato each have 10 goals.
For now, the record is still there—just a step out of reach. And in a World Cup where momentum can shift in minutes, Messi’s missed penalty on June 22 only sharpened the suspense around when the 17th goal finally comes.
Lionel Messi Argentina Austria World Cup 2026 penalty kick miss Lautaro Martinez Miroslav Klose FC Barcelona PSG Inter Miami