‘I’m annoyed I missed the penalty,’ says Messi. How Maradona helped Messi to take freekicks

In the 36th minute, Messi initiated his penalty run after successfully winning a bet with Poland’s goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny. The reliability of Messi’s penalty kicks has been a topic of discussion among fans, with the acknowledgment that he has missed several over the years.

Between 2014 and 2016, Messi converted only 10 out of 17 penalties, creating a stir among MessivsRonaldo enthusiasts. Although he showed improvement in subsequent years, occasional misses persisted in major events such as the last World Cup and Copa America. As Messi approached the ball on Wednesday night, Szczesny harbored hope, acknowledging the blend of skill and luck required to save a Messi penalty.

Opting for the left side of the goal but not quite at the far post, Messi’s attempt was thwarted by Szczesny’s diving save with his raised right fist. Messi expressed frustration at the miss but noted the team’s resilience after his mistake, emphasizing their conviction in securing victory.

The manager asserted that he would never substitute Messi unless the player himself requests it, stating, “If he does not ask me, I will not take him out.” Messi, however, indicated that he would not make such a request, citing experience and age as factors that enable him to manage himself on the field without needing rest.

Interestingly, Diego Maradona, a football legend like Messi, also faced challenges with penalties, once missing five in a row. The narrative takes a turn to highlight Maradona’s impact on Messi’s free kicks, particularly during a training session in 2009. Despite Messi’s momentary despondency after a missed free kick, Maradona intervened in a paternalistic manner, providing valuable advice.

During the session, Maradona replicated Messi’s missed free kick, scoring a goal with finesse. The legendary player then advised Messi not to retract his foot too quickly, metaphorically suggesting that the ball possesses feelings. This anecdote illustrates Maradona’s influence on Messi’s free-kick technique and highlights the unique perspective that football geniuses like them have towards the ball.