Argentina Coach Confirms Messi Will Retain Penalty Taking Duties Despite Misses
Despite missing two penalties in the ongoing World Cup, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has clearly stated that captain Lionel Messi will continue to be responsible for taking penalties.
Summary
Prepared after editorial review.
- Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that captain Lionel Messi will continue to take penalty kicks for the team.
- “Until he himself decides to relinquish the responsibility, Lionel Messi will keep taking Argentina’s penalties,” said Scaloni.
- Despite missing two penalties in the current World Cup, Scaloni expresses full confidence in Messi and grants him complete freedom on the field.
June 27, Kathmandu – Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has affirmed that captain Lionel Messi will remain responsible for taking penalty kicks.
Even after missing two penalties in the ongoing World Cup, Scaloni insisted that Messi will not lose this responsibility.
“Even though he has struggled in recent matches, Lionel Messi will continue to take Argentina’s penalties until he decides to step down himself,” he said.
He added, “We have other players capable of taking penalties, but if Messi wants to take them, he will.”
Messi has missed two penalties so far in this World Cup. Since the 2022 World Cup, out of the last seven penalties taken for Argentina, Messi has converted only four.
Coach Scaloni also highlighted that Messi has the freedom to play any role on the field that suits him best. “Messi used to run a lot, and he still covers almost the same distance,” he explained. “The difference now is that everything he does is far more decisive.”
He continued, “I have said this many times—not just because I am his coach but because as long as he has the desire, he will remain the best.”