Argentina secured its spot in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, completing one of the most impressive comebacks in the tournament’s history.

Following the latest developments, Argentina has been awarded a total of eight penalty kicks in its last 12 World Cup matches. No other national team had reached that number within such a short span of time.

The previous record was held by Spain and the Netherlands, which had each been awarded seven penalties. For Argentina, this averages out to roughly one penalty kick per 135 minutes of play in the tournament.

It all began at the World Cup in Qatar, when Lionel Scaloni’s team took five penalty kicks—a record for a national team in a single tournament. At the 2026 World Cup, they have already added three more.

Despite the large number of penalty kicks Argentina has earned, Lionel Messi has not managed to capitalize on all of them. The captain of the “Albiceleste” has missed twice in this year’s tournament, against Austria and Egypt.

These two missed attempts also set a record for a player in a single World Cup tournament, not counting penalty shootouts after extra time.

The implementation of VAR since the 2018 World Cup has increased the number of instances in which referees review fouls inside the penalty areas. Argentina is now the most striking example of this trend, with its historic record sparking a new debate about referees’ decisions and criteria in major tournaments.

*photo source: AP