Messi in the farewell match interrupted a series of unrealized penalties
Lionel Messi in the last match for Argentina scored from a penalty in the 71st minute. Before that, he had a series of three matches in a row with unrealized penalties
Forward Lionel Messi in his farewell match for the national team of Argentina against the Benin team realized a penalty, thereby interrupting his unsuccessful series.
According to Transfermarkt, currently on account of the Argentine 117 realized and 35 unrealized penalties.
In the 71st minute, he confidently broke the 11-meter, setting the final score - 3: 0. It was his 126th goal for the national team.
Before the farewell match, 39-year-old Messi experienced a series of setbacks with penalties, affecting both the World Cup-2026 and the club tournament. Among the unrealized penalties were two at the 2026 World Cup (against Austria and Egypt) and one for Inter Miami against Nashville.
In the summer, he became the first player in history to not score two penalties in regular time at a single World Cup.
Messi has played for Argentina since 2005. He played 208 games and scored 126 goals. With the team, he won the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America (2021, 2024) and many other trophies.
