For years the charge against Lionel Messi was that he could not handle the pressure of a penalty in an Argentina shirt. The 2022 World Cup Final put an end to that. He scored two penalties on the biggest night of his career.
The critics had a point once. They do not have one now.
The wider record
Messi has scored over 100 career penalties for Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami and Argentina. His conversion rate across all competitions is above 77%, which is a solid figure for someone who has taken that many. Volume brings misses, and he has had a few. It also brings a lot of goals.
He is not a showman from 12 yards the way some on this list were. When it works it looks effortless, and the 2022 final showed he could do it with the World Cup on the line.
Over 100 penalties, plenty of clutch moments and the most important spot kicks in Argentina's recent history. That is enough for number 6.
Tomorrow, number 5.
