Despite Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Poland on the morning of December 1 (Vietnam time) to officially ᴜsurp the top spot of Group C of the 2022 World Cup by the “White Eagles” and win tickets to the 1/8 round to meet Australia, Lionel Messi still feels sadness. According to Goal, the penalty was saved by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in the 39th minute, causing Messi to set a sad record as the first player in history to miss two consecutive World Cups.
Lionel Messi’s penalty ƙick was in the wrong direction and was saved by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny in Argentina’s match against Poland
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia four years ago, “La Pulga” also failed to ƅeat goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson when he took a 11m free ƙick in the opening match when Argentina drew 1-1 with Iceland.
Messi also missed two of his three penalties at the World Cup (excluding penalty shootouts). The superstar has now equaled the most unsuccessful penalty attempts by a player since 1966 as was the case with Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan (two of his four missed).
However, “in misfortune, there is luck” when Lionel Messi missed a penalty against Poland could be a sign that he and Argentina can win the World Cup like 2 compatriots Mario Kempes. and Diego Maradona.
Notably, it is very coincidental that both Kempes and “Golden Boy” Maradona failed to take penalties when Argentina played the third match in the group stage of a World Cup like Messi, but the legendary duo mentioned above still crowned excellence.
Specifically, in the 1978 World Cup when Argentina was the home team, Kempes was responsible for the penalty ƙick against Italy. But the star nicknamed “El Matador” failed to face the legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff, contributing to “Albiceleste” losing to the opponent 0-1.
However, after that, Kempes still won the 1978 World Cup with Argentina when he ƅeat the Netherlands 3-1 in 120 minutes of time and extra time in the final at Monumental home in Buenos Aires. This legend is also the “Scorer” of the world cup that year with 6 goals scored for “Tango Dancers”.
Mario Kempes also missed a penalty in the third match of the group stage of the World Cup but still won the world championship with Argentina in 1978.
Eight years after the Jules Rimet trophy won by Mario Kempes and Argentina, Diego Maradona and his teammates entered the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with the desire to reach the top.
Coincidentally, the “Golden Boy” also missed a penalty in the third match of the World Cup group stage that year when Argentina won 2-0 against Bulgaria. Winning the right to continue, coach Bilardo Carlos’s army in turn overcame Uruguay, England, Belgium and West Germany to win the second World Cup in history.
Maradona was admired all over the world for his great contribution to helping Argentina win the world cup that year, although he once scored a controversial goal with his hand against England in the quarter-finals. That famous goal was later called by the late legend himself with the beautiful name “Hand of God”.
Diego Maradona missed a penalty on the way with “Albiceleste” to win the 1986 World Cup in Mexico
Can Messi continue the good fortune like Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona after missing a penalty to help Argentina win the World Cup?
This is completely possible when “Albiceleste” is playing better after a ꜱhocking 1-2 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening match in Qatar. If he wins Australia in the round of 16, Messi and his teammates can face the Netherlands or the US in the quarterfinals. The opportunity to go deep for teachers and students Lionel Scaloni is not small when Messi once declared the 2022 World Cup to be the last time he attended a world cup.