Lionel Messi has spoken about always going first in a penalty shootout and wanting to take full responsibility.
Messi spoke in an interview with Simplemente Fútbol about wanting to play in the 2026 World Cup and Argentina’s matches at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In the same interview, Messi stated that he always tried to go first in a penalty shootout.
With the Argentina national team, Messi kicked first at the 2011 Copa America against Uruguay while also kicking first in the semi final of the 2014 World Cup against the Netherlands. In consecutive Copa America finals against Chile, he also went first while also going first at the 2021 Copa America in the semi finals against Colombia, the quarter finals of the 2022 World Cup against the Netherlands, the World Cup final against France and the quarter finals of the 2024 Copa Americ against Ecuador. Speaking in the interview, here is what he had to say:
“I always tried to go first in penalty shootouts, to take the full responsibility, I always did that.”
About taking a penalty against Hugo Lloris in the 2022 World Cup final:
“I wasn’t thinking about where to shoot against Lloris, it was about waiting until the last moment. I waited for him, he moved, but I was very calm.”
