The one record Messi's ashamed of: 7 missed penalties
During today's merciless showing against Getafe, the Argentine drew level with Samuel Eto'o as Barcelona's all-time most ineffective spot-kick taker in a single league season.
Given his mastery when it comes to smashing records, it should be no surprise that Lionel Messi topped the charts in yet another facet of the beautiful game this afternoon. However, the nature of his latest entry into the record books is quite odd. In one of the most basic aspects of the game, penalty taking, the Argentine now goes down as Barcelona’s biggest misfirer in league history.
For all their accomplishments, Los Culés have a bizarrely poor track record when it comes to converting from twelve yards. Back during the 1976-77 season, the team missed seven penalties (Clares three, Neeskens three and Cryuff one). According to Mister Chip’s Twitter account, the world’s most fearsome attacking trio have already equalled that tally during the current La Liga campaign (Messi three, Neymar two and Suárez two).
But while he might not be the most effective spot-kick specialist on the planet, the Barca number 10 still managed to go into the break today with a goal and two assists under his belt.