Lionel Messi misses penalty as Argentina draws Iceland in World Cup opener (Video)

Argentina had to settle for a 1-1 draw with World Cup first-timers Iceland after Lionel Messi missed a second-half penalty.

Messi placed the spot kick to Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson’s right, but it was at a perfect height for Halldorsson, who palmed it away:

Messi had helped win the penalty, curling in a cross for Maxi Meza, who was tripped as he lunged for the header.

But Messi couldn’t convert. He tried time and time again over the final 20 minutes to make up for the miss. He sent double-digit shots toward goal. Argentina dominated possession, and the game as a whole.

La Albiceleste, however, couldn’t break through, and Iceland claimed a historic result.

After Cristiano Ronaldo’s heroics against Spain on Friday, many expected Messi to respond with an excellent performance of his own on Saturday. He’s had a habit of doing just that throughout his career.

But when he stepped to the penalty spot, he did just the opposite. When he stepped up to a free kick in the 95th minute, with the opportunity to equal Ronaldo’s, he smacked it into the wall. And then he kicked the ball away in frustration as the final whistle blew.

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