Has Messi missed many penalties for Argentina?

Over his career Messi has missed some penalties, but his overall conversion record and clutch goals outweigh the occasional miss; context matters more than a simple miss count.

Who could replace Messi as Argentina's penalty taker?

Likely alternatives include Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María or Rodrigo De Paul — players with technique and temperament who should be rehearsed and ranked by the coaching staff.

Should penalty order be fixed or flexible in shootouts?

Flexible but pre-decided: have a clear, practiced order for shootouts and allow the coach to deviate only if there are compelling signs that the selected taker is compromised.

Keep the Ball with Messi — But Have a Plan B

The debate over whether Argentina should strip Lionel Messi of penalty duties is louder than ever, but it begins with context: Messi remains one of the most accurate and composed finishers in modern football and his presence at the spot carries psychological weight that goes beyond conversion percentages. High-profile misses attract headlines, yet they distort a long career of reliably taken penalties and clutch moments for club and country. Argentina's penalty problem is not simply a binary choice about one player; it is a question of selection, preparation and risk management.

Technically, penalties are small-margin acts where run-up, placement and goalkeeper study matter as much as raw technique, and Messi still possesses the elite ability to disguise and displace the ball. Psychologically, Messi's leadership and the confidence his teammates draw from him often justify the captain's role as the primary taker. But pressure accumulates: fatigue, small injuries, or a visible loss of rhythm can make even the best hesitate, and national teams must be prepared to read those signs in real time.

Practically, Argentina should formalize a ranked list of takers and rehearse in training until substitutions and shootout orders are automatic. Candidates such as Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María or Rodrigo De Paul have pedigree and temperament, and one of them must be ready to step in without drama. Manager Lionel Scaloni's job is to balance reverence with pragmatism — keep Messi's leadership intact while eliminating last-minute guesswork that turns penalties into crises.

The Guru's verdict is clear: do not remove Messi from penalties as a default — he remains Argentina's best option in most scenarios — but do not treat the decision as sacred either. Insist on rehearsed backups, set a transparent order and empower the coach to switch if signs of decline appear; that dual approach protects Messi's aura while safeguarding Argentina's results. My prediction: Argentina keeps Messi as primary taker, uses a practiced contingency plan, and will be better for it when the big moments come.