​Should Argentina continue to rely on Lionel Messi for penalties, or should Julian Alvarez and the rest of the squad take on more responsibility to end Leo’s penalty woes? This question has become a talking point as Messi’s penalty record has shown a streak of imperfect moments, even as his brilliance on the field remains unquestioned. Messi, a player who frequently appears to be at the peak of perfection in almost every other aspect of the game, has a penalty record that some fans find perplexing.
On the field, when the outcome of a match hinges on a single kick, the player taking the shot often looks as vulnerable as anyone. At 39, Messi has continued to perform at a remarkable level, contributing to Argentina’s bid for another deep run in major tournaments. He has enjoyed a storied World Cup campaign, scoring eight goals in five matches as Argentina advanced to the quarterfinals against Switzerland. Messi stands as the all-time World Cup top scorer with 21 goals and could even threaten Just Fontaine’s single-tournament record of 13, set in 1958. Yet his chances to break such records could be affected by his recent penalty form.
Messi’s 0-for-2 from the spot in the United States has drawn particular scrutiny. He fired a tame wide in the group stage against Austria, and Mostafa Shobeir of Egypt saved his attempt in the Round of 16. Although Messi later found form, scoring twice against Austria and delivering a superb equalizer in the dramatic 3-2 comeback against Egypt, these misses may still weigh on the team’s strategic thinking. From a broader perspective, it’s worth considering whether continuing to let Messi take penalties is in Argentina’s best interest, or if the coaching staff should encourage other players to assume responsibility from the spot.
Career penalties total: 148
Penalties scored: 114
Penalties missed: 34
Conversion rate: 77%
Messi’s penalty conversion rate dipped to 78.12% after the World Cup 2026 misses, a figure that Opta would describe as a 0.79 xG chance for a typical penalty, implying that around 79% of penalties are expected to be scored. In other words, Messi’s rate is slightly below a bang-average penalty taker over the arc of his career, considering his club and international experiences with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.
Statistics show that Messi has achieved notable success from the spot, including four penalties during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, and penalties in both of Argentina’s shootout wins over the Netherlands and in the 2022 tournament. Penalty shootouts, which are not included in the standard penalty tallies above, reveal Messi’s record as seven goals from nine attempts for Argentina in shootouts. His misses have come in high-profile moments, such as the Copa America quarterfinal loss to Ecuador in 2024 (though Argentina still advanced and eventually won the tournament) and the 2016 Copa America final, when Chile claimed the trophy.
Messi remains Argentina’s undisputed talisman. The real question is whether this is sustainable management for the team: should they diversify their penalty-take responsibilities to reduce the risk of a single-player’s miss weighing down crucial matches, or should they preserve Messi’s role as the primary taker because of his unparalleled influence and experience? If the aim is to maximize Argentina’s chances in big games, there is a case to be made for rotating takers, especially in tournament context where pressure and familiarity can influence the outcome. However, any change would need clear communication and confidence in the designated takers to handle the added responsibility.
As Argentina continues on the road to potential glory, the decision on who should take penalties—Messi or teammates such as Julian Alvarez—will likely be revisited. The coaching staff must weigh Messi’s history and leadership against the potential benefits of distributing penalty duties more evenly across the squad. In the end, the path to continued success for Argentina may depend less on reducing Messi’s involvement and more on strengthening the team’s overall penalty approach, mental preparation, and composure in high-pressure moments.