Argentina captain Lionel Messi has opened up on his reaction after missing a penalty during his team’s 2026 FIFA World Cup clash against Austria.
The Inter Miami forward failed to convert from the spot during the match but recovered to score twice as Argentina secured a 2-0 victory.
The win helped the defending champions continue their World Cup campaign with another important result.
Argentina star explains penalty miss
Speaking after the game, Messi admitted he was disappointed with the missed opportunity, explaining that his effort was not well taken.
“Today, there was a moment where I was very angry about the penalty because I missed it,” Messi said.
The Argentine captain added that the team responded strongly after the setback and focused on securing all three points.
Messi praises team effort
Messi said Argentina expected a difficult contest against Austria, noting that World Cup matches are always challenging.
The 38-year-old explained that every team competing at the tournament fights hard and no opponent should be underestimated.
Despite the missed penalty, Messi’s two goals helped Argentina secure victory and maintain their push in the competition.
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