Doha: Lionel Messi’s penalty was saved one-handed by Wojciech Szwaczynski by diving to the left. Szczesny saves the second penalty in Qatar.
He became the third goalkeeper to save two penalties in one edition of the World Cup following Brad Friedel (2002 for USA) and Jan Tomaszewski (1974 for Poland). Messi has wasted a total of 31 penalties in his career. He is also the second player to miss two penalties in the World Cup. Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan missed two penalties in the World Cup.
Messi’s first penalty miss was in a friendly match once morest Germany. Messi also missed a penalty in the last World Cup. Iceland goal keeper Hannes Thor Halldösson blocked Messi’s kick. Messi’s penalty was wasted once morest Real Madrid in the Champions League. It was his only penalty miss at Paris Saint-Germain. Messi’s kick was blocked by Thibaut Courtois. Messi had the opportunity to play in seven penalty shootouts for Argentina.