Lionel Messi is out here absolutely bossing his sixth World Cup, right? He's 39 years old and still racing to eight goals in just five matches before Argentina even hits the quarterfinal against Switzerland. He's already the all-time top scorer in World Cups with 21 total, and honestly, he's got a shot at Just Fontaine's insane 1958 record of 13 goals in a single tournament. But here's the kicker, the one weird flaw in his majestic run: he's gone 0 for 2 from the penalty spot in the United States this year.
The Cold Hard Truth About Messi's Spot Kicks
We're talking about Lionel Messi, a man who touches perfection with almost everything else on a soccer field. So why does he look so vulnerable from the penalty spot? His first miss came against Austria in the group stage, a tamely hit shot wide of the mark. Then, in the Round of 16, Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir flat-out saved his attempt. Look, Argentina still won both those games, with Messi even scoring twice against Austria and netting a brilliant equalizer in their breathless 3-2 comeback against Egypt. So it hasn't *cost* them anything yet, but it absolutely *could*. Think about it: Messi's career penalty record stands at 148 taken, 114 scored, and 34 missed. That's a 77% conversion rate, which actually dipped to 78.12% after these World Cup misses. And for context, Opta says a penalty is a 0.79 xG chance, meaning 79% are expected to be scored. Messi is statistically just a little worse than a bang average penalty taker. He's missed for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. This isn't some new fluke.Argentina's Risky Bet and the Alternatives
When you zoom in on just his Argentina numbers, it's the same story: 32 taken, 25 scored, 7 missed for a 78.12% conversion rate. It's totally in line with his overall career numbers. Sure, he was clutch in the 2022 World Cup, scoring four times from the spot and in both shootout wins against the Netherlands and Argentina. And in shootouts, he's a solid 7 out of 9 for his country. But we also can't forget the devastating miss against Chile in the 2016 Copa America Final that cost them the trophy, or even the 2024 Copa America quarterfinal miss against Ecuador. Messi is still Argentina's main man, no question. But with the World Cup stakes this high, is it really in Lionel Scaloni's best interest to keep letting him step up from 12 yards? The answer might be standing right next to him: Julian Alvarez. Alvarez boasts a career record of 19 penalties taken, 17 scored, and only 2 missed. That's a phenomenal 89.47% conversion rate. Argentina is deep in this tournament, and every single decision matters. Relying on a statistically below-average penalty taker is a risk that might just be too big to take. It's not about disrespecting Leo; it's about making the smart move to win the World Cup.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.