Lionel Messi suffers 'incredible' penalty miss for Argentina vs Egypt after Ibrahim goal opens scoring

Lionel Messi missed a fourth penalty of the eight he has taken at the World Cup to compound Argentina’s troubles with the holders trailing Egypt in the last 16 on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir correctly dived to his left to push Messi’s first-half spot kick away, keeping the Pharaohs’ lead intact after Yasser Ibrahim headed in Marwan Attia’s delivery in the 15th minute in Atlanta.

“He actually didn’t look really confident,” former Scotland striker Ally McCoist told ITV of Messi’s penalty, calling the calamity for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner “incredible”.

“I can’t believe I’m saying that of one of the greatest players on earth. Its the first time I’ve ever seen him when I’m not sure he believed himself.”

Messi MISSES another penalty 🙅‍♂️
Egypt’s keeper Mostafa Shobeir throws himself at the ball to stop
Argentina capitalising on a foul on Nicolas Tagliafico 🫨 pic.twitter.com/O3RuRaU5aa
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2026

Analysis: How Messi missed penalty in Argentina vs Egypt

Argentina were awarded a path back into the contest when forward Haissem Hassan brought down Nicolas Tagliafico.

“It’s a good save but it’s a comfortable one,” observed McCoist. “[Shoubir] goes the right way. It’s the perfect height for him.

“It’s funny because you look at Messi and he normally runs up, has a wee look and takes a bit of time. He’d made his mind up with that one.”

Argentina vs Egypt: ‘Brilliant’ goal at World Cup 2026

McCoist felt Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez had been confused about whether to step forward or backwards while marking Ibrahim for the goal.

“He gives himself a problem because he’s not in line with the rest of his defenders,” reckoned the pundit.

What a ball! ⚽️
Yasser Ibrahim’s ‘perfect’ header sends Egypt ahead early doors against Argentina 😱 pic.twitter.com/JUypcQ6QMr
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2026

“He then thinks, ‘can I react in time? Do I step out, or stay with the man?’ He does neither. The delivery in’s brilliant.

“That really is an excellent delivery for the goal, coming away from the goalkeeper. It takes him out of the equation and lets the attacker attack it, which he did.”

World Cup 2026: Argentina team vs Egypt

Argentina made three changes from their last-32 win over Cape Verde as Facundo Medina, Thiago Almada and Lautaro Martinez were replaced by Nicolas Tagliafico, Leandro Paredes and Julian Alvarez.

Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina, Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, Lionel Messi

Argentina substitutes: Juan Musso, Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Senesi, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Lautaro Martinez

World Cup 2026: Egypt team vs Argentina

Egypt made two alterations from their win over Australia, in which Mohamed Salah had been a doubt because of a hamstring issue but played throughout and converted a penalty.

Mohanad Lashin and Hassan supplanted Hamdy Fathy and Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush.

Egypt starting XI: Mostafa Shoubir, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Hany, Ramy Rabia, Karim Hafez, Emam Ashour, Mostafa Zico, Mohanad Lashin, Marawan Attia, Mohamed Salah, Haissem Hassan

Egypt substitutes: Mohamed Elshenawy, Mahdy Soliman, Mohamed Alaa, Hossam Abdelmaguid, Tarek Alaa, Hamdy Fathy, Nabil Donga, Mahmoud Saber, Trezeguet, Hamza Abdelkarim, Ibrahim Adel, Omar Marmoush, Zizo