Lionel Messi failed to convert a penalty kick during Argentina’s match against Austria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, establishing a new unwanted record in World Cup history. This miss marks the most penalty kicks ever failed by a player in the tournament’s history. The match occurred during the second round of Group J qualifying games. While the overall impact on the game’s outcome remains to be seen, the statistic highlights a rare off-form moment for the celebrated Argentinian captain. This is a significant event given Messi’s reputation as a prolific goal scorer and reliable penalty taker. The result places added scrutiny on Argentina’s performance in the qualifying stages.