Argentina Captain Lionel Messi’s Penalty Mishap During Quarterfinal Match Against Ecuador
On July 4, 2024, the quarterfinal match of the Copa America saw a dramatic and unforgettable moment involving Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, as his attempt at a panenka penalty ended in disappointment. The high-stakes encounter between Argentina and Ecuador took place at the NRG Stadium in Texas, and it was a match that was intensely contested. After the full 90 minutes of regulation time ended with a 1-1 scoreline, the game was pushed into a penalty shootout to determine which team would advance to the semifinals.
Throughout the match, Messi, who had been dealing with ongoing injury issues throughout the tournament, had a significant role in Argentina’s opening goal. During the first half, Messi took a corner kick that was cleverly flicked on by his teammate Alexis Mac Allister. The ball was then perfectly directed towards Lisandro Martinez, who made no mistake in converting it into a goal and giving Argentina the lead.
However, Ecuador came back strongly in the second half, putting considerable pressure on the World Cup champions. The turning point came when Rodrigo de Paul was penalized for a handball in the penalty area. Ecuador’s star striker, Enner Valencia, was given the opportunity to level the score from the penalty spot. Despite Valencia’s best efforts, his penalty kick struck the post and did not find the back of the net. The match continued to be fiercely competitive, and in the dying moments of the game, Kevin Rodriguez scored a crucial goal in stoppage time to level the score at 1-1 and force the match into a penalty shootout.
Due to the Copa America tournament rules for this year, which do not allow for extra time, the game went straight into the penalty shootout. As the designated captain of the Argentina team, Messi was entrusted with taking the first penalty for his side. Known for his composure and skill, Messi attempted an audacious panenka penalty, a technique where the ball is gently chipped down the centre of the goal while the goalkeeper is expected to dive to one side. Despite Messi’s attempt to showcase his confidence and finesse, the execution of the panenka was unfortunate. The ball clipped the top of the crossbar and sailed over the goal, missing the target completely as Ecuador’s goalkeeper had already committed to diving in the opposite direction. The moment was captured in a video that has since been widely shared, capturing the shock and disappointment of the miss:
