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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>All-time great returned from injury</li><li>Played the full 90 minutes</li><li>Missed from the spot in shootout</li></ul>

Lionel Messi explains why he took Panenka penalty that clipped crossbar & admits to feeling ‘scared’ about injury before Argentina’s dramatic Copa America quarter-final clash with Ecuador

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was back at Lionel Scaloni’s disposal for a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/argentina-player-ratings-vs-ecuador-emi-martinez-lionel-messi/blte992b625464044d9" target="_blank">last-eight encounter with Ecuador</a>. He recovered from injury in time to play the full 90 minutes of that contest, with there no extra-time in the 2024 Copa.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Messi stepped up first in the shootout, at the end of a dramatic 1-1 draw that saw Ecuador equalise in stoppage-time, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-misses-penalty-ecuador-emi-martinez-argentina/bltb983da768e1b9b01" target="_blank">dinked his tame effort onto the frame of the goal</a>. The Inter Miami superstar told reporters afterwards: “I was very angry, I was convinced that I would take it like that. I had spoken with Dibu (Martinez), with (Geronimo) Rulli, I had taken a couple of penalties. I hadn't practised, but I spoke with them. I had been taking several cross-shots, in fact the goalkeeper dived for a cross-shot, I tried to touch it and it went high.”

WHAT MESSI SAID

Messi had been <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/will-lionel-messi-fit-copa-america-quarter-final-injury-update-inter-miami-superstar-argentina-ecuador-nrg-stadium-houston/blt9c6053e757a8b7ad" target="_blank">nursing a muscle complaint in the build-up to the game</a> and admits that fitness concerns were playing on his mind before a ball was kicked. He added on spending the week “trying to get rid of the discomfort I had, the pain, training little by little, feeling a little scared, letting go little by little. In the last training sessions I felt better and I thought I could be there. I felt fine, I had no discomfort, nothing. There is always a bit of psychological fear of having an injury or discomfort, but at a muscular level I had nothing. (Scaloni) asked me if I was ready to play and I said yes.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Argentina are now into the semi-finals, as their defence of a prestigious continental crown continues. Emi Martinez was once again their hero in a penalty shootout – as he has been so often down the years – and a meeting with either Venezuela or Canada is next on the agenda for them.

WHAT NEXT?

Lionel Messi explains why he took Panenka penalty that clipped crossbar & admits to feeling ‘scared’ about injury before Argentina’s dramatic Copa America quarter-final clash with Ecuador | Goal.com Tanzania

Lionel Messi has explained why he opted for a Panenka penalty in Argentina’s Copa America quarter-final, with said effort clipping the crossbar.

Lionel Messi explains why he took Panenka penalty that clipped crossbar &amp; admits to feeling ‘scared’ about injury before Argentina’s dramatic Copa America quarter-final clash with Ecuador