Former FIFA World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit has asserted that the players within the Argentina national team will never turn against their captain, Lionel Messi. According to Petit, the squad maintains a profound level of trust in the star forward, ensuring they will continue to fight for him on the pitch in every situation. Speaking to BOYLE Sports, Petit emphasized that Messi has earned the deep respect of his teammates, who would not question him even if he were to miss a penalty kick.
"The Golden Boot will be tough because even when Messi misses a penalty, he scores. Who's gonna take the responsibility for that? Do you think a teammate is going to tell Messi they should take the penalty? No. Messi is different," Petit stated. He further noted that even when Messi experiences a miss, his ability to provide assists and score other goals compensates for the error. Petit observed that while other players might struggle mentally after a missed opportunity, Messi possesses the belief and talent that keeps his teammates from criticizing him, knowing he will eventually produce a decisive moment.
Lionel Messi has missed both of his penalties during the current FIFA World Cup campaign. Despite these setbacks, he remains a key figure, currently tied for the lead in the Golden Boot race with Kylian Mbappe, having already recorded eight goals. Reflecting on his own performance, Messi recently expressed frustration regarding a missed penalty during Argentina's win over Egypt. He was visibly emotional after the match, admitting that he felt the game could have unfolded differently had he converted the spot-kick.
"I cried because I was really frustrated because of the penalty I missed and the way I took it, because I think if I had scored the penalty, the game would’ve gone differently," Messi explained. He noted that despite the missed chance, the team continued to create opportunities and eventually secured a victory that provided a sense of relief and happiness. Messi emphasized that the group deserved to advance because they refused to let their tournament journey end at that stage. Argentina is now preparing for their FIFA World Cup semifinal match against England, scheduled for Wednesday, July 15.
