'I kicked it badly!' - Lionel Messi 'very angry' about shock missed penalty vs Austria despite Argentina captain bouncing back to beat World Cup goals record
Lionel Messi expressed frustration over a missed penalty during Argentina's World Cup match against Austria but recovered to score two goals. His performance helped Argentina secure a spot in the knockout rounds and set a new record for most World Cup goals.
Why it matters
Messi's achievement marks a historic milestone in professional football, cementing his legacy in the sport.
Talisman overcomes penalty heartbreak The defending champions secured their passage to the knockout rounds in Texas despite their captain uncharacteristically pulling an eigth-minute penalty wide of the post. It marked Messi's third non-shootout failure from the spot in tournament history , a statistical low point he quickly amended. The veteran forward recovered to break the deadlock before the interval and added a clinical second in second-half stoppage time, taking his tally to five goals in just two matches at the current tournament.
The article is a straightforward sports report focusing on match statistics and player quotes.
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