Lionel Messi ‘s inconsistency with the Paris Saint-Germain club has remained since he joined from Barcelona last summer.
Though PSG went on to defeat Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg, courtesy to a late goal from Kylian Mbappe, Messi missed a penalty kick to put his team up.
Mbappe was fouled in the 61st minute by Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal. Messi took up the spot-kick in response to the scenario, although his effort was not as accurate as one might have hoped.
Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid comfortably saved the penalty, keeping the scoreline scoreless.
Lionel Messi did it by equaling former Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry’s record for most missed penalty kicks in UEFA Champions League history.
Messi, like Henry, has missed a total of 23 penalties in Europe’s best club competition.
Concerning the penalty save, Courtois stated that he had meticulously researched Messi’s penalties, which aided him in making the stop.
“You know that in these types of games, as a goalkeeper, you’re going to have a lot to do,” Courtois told BT Sport following the defeat. “I’d spent a lot of time studying Messi’s penalties and attempted to play with him when my life was on the line. You’ll also need a little bit of luck.”
Messi has been vilified several times since joining PSG. The 34-year-old was anticipated to make an immediate impact and terrorize French defenses with his abilities, but that has not been the case thus far.
Messi has only two goals in Ligue 1. Indeed, since the start of the season, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has appeared to be more of a creator than a scorer.
Watch PK miss Below;
Former England player Gary Lineker advised fans to temper their expectations of Messi.
“Messi is 35 in June. Ronaldo has just turned 37. We should probably lower our expectations. They still do wonderful things, but not even these footballing Gods can defy father time forever,” Lineker tweeted.
Messi will be hoping to be in better form when PSG go to Santiago Bernabeu for the Round of 16 second leg against Real Madrid.
