During the Copa America, Lionel Messi was unable to convert his penalty.
In Argentina’s exciting Copa America shootout victory over Ecuador, Lionel Messi tried a sneaky Panenka but MISSED his penalty.
Argentina defeated Colombia on penalties to secure their place in the Copa America semifinals.
Following a tense penalty shootout in which Messi utterly misplayed his lines from the spot, the holders prevailed against the Ecuadorians.
Lisandro Martinez, a defender for Manchester United, headed in the first goal after a flick on from a corner kick by Lionel Messi.
Before Kevin Rodriguez’s goal in the 91st minute tied the score, Argentina was leading the quarterfinal match.
When Rodriguez took the first spot kick and won the Ballon d’Or eight times, he forced an overtime penalty between Ecuador and Argentina.
But in his appalling execution of his Panenka penalty, he was unable to find the back of the net.
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Messi’s attempt smacked against the crossbar, but Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa, who stopped two penalties, saved his blushes.
After stopping Ecuador’s first penalty, “Dibu” saved their second, and Nicolás Otamendi, a former Manchester City defender, converted the winning penalty.
Argentina will play the winner of Venezuela vs. Canada on Wednesday in their return to the Copa America, with the goal of winning two straight crowns.
Messi disclosed during the game that he and Martinez had been making jokes about the game coming to penalties.
“He made jokes about the potential of penalties before the game and claimed he would save them. We have an advantage when we get to this point,” he remarked.
The star player for Inter Miami continued: “[After the match against Chile] I was in pain and afraid about getting hurt, but in the last practice I felt better and thought I could play, so I assured Scaloni that I was okay and that I wasn’t experiencing any muscular soreness.
“I was furious because, if the chance presented itself, I was persuaded to take it that way. I had already spoken with Dibu and Rulli.”