‘I felt I let the team down’: Lionel Messi admits missed penalty destroyed him against Egypt

Argentine Lionel Messi (10) celebrates (AP photo) Lionel Messi admitted he felt he had “let the group down” after missing a first-half penalty against Egypt before playing a crucial role in Argentina’s remarkable comeback to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. The defending champions looked on the brink of elimination after going down 2-0 in the last 16 match in the 67th minute. But goals from Cristiano Romero, Messi and Enzo Fernandez in the space of 13 minutes completed a stunning turnaround to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory. Messi’s missed penalty earlier in the match threatened to prove costly. The Argentina captain was denied from the spot by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, marking the fourth penalty miss of his World Cup career, the most by any player in the tournament’s history. Reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster after the match, Messi admitted he was deeply frustrated by the setback and worried he had let his team-mates down. “Yes, it really was a relief, a relief for everyone. As I just said, I was very angry about the missed penalty, the way I kicked it. I felt that I let the group down at an important moment and luckily for me God had something special again at the end. I managed to score the equalizer, a very big relief and a huge luck, what is it for us and for all those people who were proud, the day gives us again and nothing, very happy.” Messi also praised Argentina’s fighting spirit, saying the team’s refusal to give up had once again seen them through a difficult situation. “I’ve said it many times and I say it often. This is a team that competes, that always gives it their all, never gives up, never gives up.” Argentina survived a frustrating opening hour after Egypt stunned the favorites with Yasser Ibrahim’s 15th-minute header. Messi then saw his penalty saved by Shobeir, who went on to produce more excellent stops to deny Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also hit the crossbar from a free-kick as Argentina trailed 1-0 at the break. Egypt thought they had doubled their advantage early in the second half through Mostafa Ziko, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review. The Pharaohs eventually made it 2-0 in the 67th minute when Ziko finished off a quick counter-attack after good work from Mohamed Salah and Haissem Hassan. Argentina responded in spectacular fashion. Romero headed home Messi’s free-kick in the 79th minute to spark a turnaround, before the captain produced an equalizer four minutes later with a fierce strike from outside the box that went off the keeper’s gloves and onto the underside of the crossbar. With moments remaining in extra time, Fernandez completed the stoppage-time comeback and fired a low finish into the bottom corner to send Argentina into the quarter-finals, where they will face Switzerland on July 12.