Messi panenka penalty kick miss. Messi calmly steps up for his penalty kick, taking the first one for Argentina, and tries to chip the soccer ball down the middle but the ball hits the crossbar.
However, as is usual with Argentina, the rest of the team steps up and wins the game for Messi.
Messi’s penalty shoot-out panenka is actually beautifully struck. Just a touch too high. Yet even Messi’s mistakes have the usual calm style.
The hero of the Argentina’s victory over Ecuador in the Copa America turned out not to be Messi but goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Post game Messi was upset his panenka kick didn’t go the way he hoped, obviously. He seems to say he shouldn’t have taken the kick that way.
OH MESSI 😅
BRUTAL 🫠 pic.twitter.com/IPC0kftU3u
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 5, 2024
Nicolás Otamendi slotted home the winning penalty kick in the shootout. Argentina are now through to the semi-finals of the 2024 Copa America.
Julián Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister and Gonzalo Montiel all smashed home their penalties. They put their shots in spots where Ecuadorian goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez couldn’t touch. Just perfect penalty kicks. It is as though Argentina doesn’t feel the pressure. Moreover, they almost relish the pressure and fighting to win the game.
That is the story of Argentina though. There is a united feeling in an effort to help Messi win games. They did that in the World Cup and now are doing it again in Copa America.
The entire team, from goalkeeper to the array of exceptional players who can come off the bench for Argentina. And they all increase their intensity and work rate when Messi isn’t at the top of his game or coming off an injury.
Of course, this Messi panenka penalty kick miss makes you think of the amazing Zidane panenka in the World Cup final. If anything, Messi missing the penalty will one make him more hunger to win games and make amends for the miss. Nobody wants to face off against an angry or determined Messi.
Finally, in Argentina’s next game they will have a well rested Ángel Di María. He didn’t step on the field in the game versus Ecuador.
Update: Quote from Emiliano Martínez via Diario Ole: “I owed it to Leo Messi, I owed it to him. He saved us in the World Cup, he won it, he was the best of all in the World Cup, and when things don’t go his way… he was coming off a very strong injury in his adductor, and I felt like I had to help him when he missed the penalty.
“I didn’t put pressure on myself; I just said, “I’m going to help him, and that’s what he deserves.” I spent so many years working for this, and that we’re playing another semifinal is thanks to him.”
