Messi reveals he practiced 300 thousand penalty kicks

Once a moment that left millions of fans stunned, Lionel Messi's missed penalty against Iceland at the 2018 World Cup is now being recalled by the Argentine superstar himself.

During a conversation on Nahuel Guzmán's podcast "Miro de atrás," Messi for the first time disclosed details about his penalty practice routine ahead of the 2018 World Cup. According to his account, for about 10 days before the tournament began in Russia, he stayed on the training field every day to take hundreds of penalty kicks with Guzmán. Messi even joked that he had "taken 300 thousand penalties" and hadn't missed a single one.

"I took about 300 thousand penalties against Patón in training in Russia, about 10 days before the tournament started. We went to the field and I told him: 'Get ready Pata, watch where the ball goes.' Some shots I placed in the corner, some I opened up my foot for. Then I had my first penalty against Iceland. I had been shooting high into the corner with an open foot against Patón, all of them went high, he couldn't save a single one. And every time he dove, he gave it his all."

"When I stepped up to take the penalty, I intended to open my foot as usual, but instead shot straight at the goalkeeper. At that moment, I just wanted to die. After the match, I told him: 'I was shaking, I couldn't fully relax my ankle.'"- Messi shared.

That confidence followed him into the opening match against Iceland. When Argentina was awarded a penalty, everything seemed pre-programmed in El Pulga's mind: open the foot, place the ball high into the corner. However, reality turned out completely different. Messi admitted that he was weighed down by psychological pressure at the decisive moment.

That saved shot resulted in Argentina only managing a 1-1 draw against Iceland, marking the beginning of a rocky journey for the Albiceleste in that World Cup. For Messi personally, it was one of the most haunting moments of his international career, especially as he always carried the immense expectations of his home country's fans on his shoulders.

Messi's confession shows that even the greatest legends are not immune to pressure. Behind the glory and the titles, there remains a flesh-and-blood human being, who can tremble in a decisive moment. It is precisely this honesty that makes Messi's image feel more relatable and worthy of admiration in the eyes of fans worldwide.