Messi Misses Penalty as Argentina Held by Austria Early in World Cup Clash

Dallas: Lionel Messi missed a golden opportunity to put Argentina ahead after failing to convert a penalty in the ninth minute of their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match against Austria on Monday.

The defending champions were awarded a spot kick early in the first half, but Messi could not make the chance count. The Argentine captain sent his effort wide, leaving the score at 0-0. The miss denied him the chance to become the outright leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history.

According to the live match feed, the penalty miss came in the ninth minute with Argentina looking to build on their strong start to the tournament. The score remained level after the missed opportunity.

Messi entered the match in excellent form after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 victory over Algeria. His three goals in that match moved him level with Miroslav Klose’s World Cup scoring record, making every chance against Austria even more significant.

Both Argentina and Austria came into the contest with three points after winning their opening matches. A victory would put either side in a strong position to secure qualification for the knockout stage.

The match remains crucial for Argentina’s hopes of finishing top of Group J, while Austria is aiming to continue their impressive start after defeating Jordan in their first game.