Argentina superstar Lionel Messi matches Diego Maradona, makes World Cup penalty history and breaks assist record - all in one game

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Lionel Messi made history of the good and bad kind during Argentina's sensational FIFA World Cup win over Egypt as his glittering tournament continued. The forward missed a penalty, scored a goal and grabbed an assist during the last-16 match in Atlanta.

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It looked like the 39-year-old was playing his last match on the biggest stage as his side fell 2-0 down to their African opponents.

But the defending champions staged a dramatic late comeback, with Messi netting the equaliser, as they went on to win 3-2.

That strike was his 21st at the World Cup, extending his record as the leading goalscorer in the tournament's history.

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Eight of those strikes have come this summer alone, meaning he leads the golden boot race, narrowly ahead of the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane.

In scoring, the Inter Miami man created yet more history in a glittering career that is into its third decade as he became the first player to net in six successive World Cup knockout games.

That run started in Qatar in 2022, when he was on target in a 2-1 success over Australia.

Strikes against the Netherlands and Croatia followed in the quarter- and semi-finals, before bagging a brace in the final, when Argentina beat France on penalties.

And that golden streak has continued into this tournament.

Messi scored the opener when his country squeezed past Cabo Verde in the last-32 before netting once more against Egypt.

Goals and assists

A mesmerising performance led to Messi making plenty more history in Atlanta.

As he inspired Argentina to a remarkable victory, he created more than five chances from open play and completed more than five dribbles.

The last man to do that in a World Cup match? A certain compatriot by the name of Diego Maradona, at the 1986 edition in Mexico.

Argentina will hope that Messi's magic is not the only bit of history repeating itself.

La Albiceleste won that tournament 40 years ago, beating West Germany in the final.

To find a player who netted eight goals in their team's opening five World Cup fixtures though, you have to go back to 1970.

Gerd Muller was the last man to achieve that feat, albeit his West Germany outfit would eventually finish third as Brazil lifted the famous trophy.

Messi, though, has equalled his achievements, thanks to a hat-trick against Algeria, a brace against Austria and one strike in victories over Jordan, Cabo Verde and Egypt.

The 39-year-old is not just lethal in front of goal. He is also the assist leader when it comes to the World Cup.

In teeing up Cristian Romero for Argentina's opening goal, Messi set up his ninth goal across six editions of the tournament.

That puts him one assist clear of Maradona, as well as the first player to assist a goal at six different World Cups.

Messi is mortal

Messi's 21-goal World Cup haul could have been greater though if he was more clinical from 12 yards.

He first missed a spot kick in his country's 2-0 victory over Austria earlier in the tournament.

And he was once again left facing penalty misery during Argentina's action-packed last-16 clash with Egypt.

Trailing 1-0 after a strike from Yasser Ibrahim, Messi had a chance to respond three minutes later after Haissem Hassan brought down Nicolas Tagliafico in the area.

The 39-year-old stepped up to take but was thwarted by goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, who guessed the right way in diving to his left to push the effort to safety.

That made the Barcelona icon the first player to miss two penalties at the same World Cup, excluding shoot-outs.

"That's incredible," said ITV commentator Ally McCoist. "He actually didn't look really confident. I can't believe I'm saying that about one of the greatest players on earth. I'm not sure he believed it himself. It's a good save but it's a comfortable one."

Perhaps history suggested the Inter Miami man was going to miss, though. Excluding shoot-outs, of eight penalties overall at the World Cup, only four have made it into the back of the net.

He is also the only player in history to miss a spot kick at three editions.

"We didn't fancy him," said ITV pundit Roy Keane at half-time. "His record is not great. For a great player like Messi, almost lacking that belief in himself. It's amazing."

Indeed, Messi's record for both club and country is far from bulletproof.

This was the 150th spot-kick he has taken across his glittering career, which is now into its third decade.

However, 34 of them have been missed, with 116 ending up in the back of the net. There is a weakness, after all.

That leads to debate over whether or not Messi should be on penalty taking duties for his country.

ITV pundit Gary Neville said it would take a brave man to take the responsibility off him, though.

"They're impossible, these players of that stature, to be able to communicate with around stuff like this," he said. "They want every penalty. They want every free kick."

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