Lionel Messi keeps rewriting World Cup history, but after his latest miss from the spot, should Argentina hand penalty duties to someone else?

With every game that passes at the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi strengthens the case that he is the greatest footballer the game has ever seen. The Argentina captain once again dragged the defending champions deep into the knockout rounds. Against Egypt in the last 16, he produced another match-defining performance, scoring once and creating another as Argentina recovered from 2-0 down with little more than 10 minutes remaining to complete one of the most incredible comebacks in World Cup history. Along the way he broke even more records. He became the oldest player ever to score and assist in a World Cup match, extending a record he already held. It was the fifth time he had both scored and assisted in a World Cup game, with no other player managing the feat more than three times since records began in 1966. In addition he moved clear as the competition's all-time leading assist provider with nine, overtaking Diego Maradona, while his latest strike was another addition to his growing collection of knockout-stage goals. So, amid another exhibition of genius, one question refuses to disappear. Should Argentina take penalties away from him? It feels almost absurd to ask about a player who has spent more than two decades redefining footballing excellence. Messi has scored virtually every type of goal imaginable and has won everything there is to win.