For a few minutes in Atlanta, it looked as though Lionel Messi's fairytale World Cup story might end in tears of despair. Trailing 2-0 to Egypt with less than 20 minutes left in a round-of-16 tie, the 39-year-old Argentina captain stared up at the giant screens, seemingly defeated. But then, in one of the most remarkable comebacks the tournament has ever seen, Argentina scored three goals in 14 minutes to win 3-2. After the final whistle, Messi stood in floods of tears, sobbing on the shoulders of his teammates — this time, tears of relief.
Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his World Cup journey has been central to that legacy. After years of near-misses, he finally lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, cementing his place in history. Now, at 39, he is playing in his sixth World Cup, leading Argentina's defence of their title. In the current tournament, Messi has scored eight goals, putting him top of the Golden Boot race ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. He has also scored in a record-equalling ninth consecutive World Cup match.
“Lionel Messi's World Cup legacy, his dramatic 2026 comeback, penalty record, and what's next for Argentina.”
But Messi's World Cup career has not been without its struggles. One of the most curious footnotes is his penalty record. In the match against Egypt, he had a first-half penalty saved by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. It was the fourth penalty he has missed at a World Cup (excluding shootouts), making him the only player to fail to convert two spot-kicks in a single tournament. This followed a miss against Austria earlier in the competition. His penalty record has become a talking point, with pundits debating whether someone else should take them. However, as ITV's Ian Wright and Gary Neville noted, it is almost impossible to tell a player of Messi's stature to step aside.
For UK readers, Messi's continued brilliance has a direct bearing on England's prospects. Argentina are now in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winners of Switzerland vs Colombia. If they advance, a potential semi-final against England could await, provided the Three Lions get past Norway. A Messi-led Argentina would be a formidable obstacle.
Q: How many World Cups has Lionel Messi played in? Messi has played in six World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. He won the tournament in 2022 and reached the final in 2014.
Q: Why does Messi miss so many penalties at the World Cup? Messi has missed four penalties in World Cup matches (excluding shootouts), the most of any player. This includes two in the 2026 tournament alone, against Austria and Egypt. Experts suggest it may be due to pressure and his style of penalty-taking, but he remains Argentina's designated taker.
Q: How many goals has Lionel Messi scored in World Cups? As of the round of 16 in 2026, Messi has scored 18 goals in World Cup finals, including eight in the current tournament. He leads the Golden Boot race in 2026 ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
What happens next for Messi and Argentina? They face the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia in the quarter-finals. Should they win, a semi-final against England or Norway could follow. With Messi's trademark knack for producing magic when it matters, his World Cup story might still have a few more chapters to write.