Lionel Messi, the celebrated football icon, narrowly missed an opportunity to set a new World Cup record for most goals scored. During the early stages of a crucial match, the Argentine star had a chance to surpass the existing benchmark but was unable to convert.
Key Moments in the Match
The game, held at Dallas Stadium, saw Argentina face off against Austria in their second group stage fixture of the North American World Cup. Argentina entered the match with momentum, having secured a 3-0 victory in their previous outing against Algeria, thanks to a hat-trick from Messi. Austria, managed by Ralf Rangnick, had also started their campaign with a win, defeating Jordan 3-1.
Notably, Austria’s goalkeeper, Stefan Posch, who had suffered a facial injury in the previous game, made a surprising start after a protective mask was hastily prepared in Los Angeles. He had been a doubt for the fixture.
Messi’s Pursuit of History
Prior to this match, Messi had accumulated 16 World Cup goals, putting him on par with the all-time record held by German legend Miroslav Klose. A single goal in this encounter would have placed him alone at the top of the scoring charts.
Messi’s impressive run in the 2022 Qatar World Cup saw him score in every round, from a penalty against Saudi Arabia in the group stage to goals in the Round of 16, the final against France, and ultimately leading Argentina to victory with a total of 7 goals. He was aiming to continue this remarkable form in his sixth World Cup appearance.
The Decisive Penalty Incident
The critical moment arrived just three minutes into the first half. Lautaro Martínez of Argentina was making a run into the Austrian penalty area when he was tackled by Austrian defenders Philipp Lienhart and Stefan Posch. The on-field referee initially did not award a penalty, but a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review led to an on-field review by the referee.
Following the review, a penalty was awarded for a foul by Posch. The stadium at Dallas Stadium buzzed with anticipation as fans, many wearing Messi’s number 10 jerseys, expected him to make history. However, Messi’s left-footed shot sailed wide of the goal, much to the disbelief of the crowd and the disappointment of those hoping to witness a new record.
Expert Analysis and Match Status
Former England international and BBC pundit, Danny Murphy, commented on the missed opportunity. “The penalty miss is very disappointing,” Murphy stated. “It looked rather ordinary to me. Honestly, we all expected Messi to score. Lionel Messi is human after all. He makes mistakes sometimes.”
As of the 15-minute mark in the first half, the match remained goalless, with both teams engaged in a tightly contested battle.
