Argentina are defending champions and leaders in a very specific category. Across the last two FIFA World Cups, they have been awarded eight penalties. That is double the next team on the list, as shown by Sofascore’s tournament overview. England sit second with four, while Brazil, Portugal and France follow with three each. Poland, Switzerland, Iran and Germany have two apiece. Thirteen other national teams have been given one. However you slice it, Argentina are alone at the top.

That volume is not a one-off. It spreads across two tournaments and different opponents. It also reflects a style that lives in the penalty area, with frequent dribbles, overlaps and cutbacks. The image tells the story at a glance, and the match logs confirm it. If you follow live on Sofascore, you will have noticed how often Argentina’s attacks end with contact in the box. The big question now is whether this trend carries into the final rounds of 2026.

2026 snapshot: three penalties, one goal

So far at World Cup 2026, Argentina have been awarded three penalties. Only one found the net, scored by Lautaro Martínez against Jordan. Two were missed by Lionel Messi, one against Austria and one against Egypt. The conversion rate is unusual for a player who has handled big moments for so long. It also hints at a broader point. Even when the finishing is not perfect, the team keeps creating penalty situations. That is pressure football doing its job.

Those three incidents also show how varied the fouls have been. Some came from quick feet in tight spaces. Others followed crosses where defenders mistimed their challenges. In all cases, Argentina’s forwards and attacking midfielders invited contact. The scoreboard did not always reflect the volume of chances, but the pattern stayed. It is the kind of detail you can track in real time with Sofascore events and momentum graphs.

Qatar 2022: five penalties, four goals

The 2022 run was busier and far more clinical. In the group stage, Messi scored from the spot against Saudi Arabia but later missed against Poland. The knockout rounds brought three more penalties. There was one in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, one in the semifinal against Croatia and one in the final against France. Messi converted all three. Argentina lifted the trophy with a penalty story that matched their attacking intent.

That path explains why the combined total is so high. Five awarded in 2022 plus three in 2026 makes eight, which puts a big gap to the field. England’s four are next best, while Brazil, Portugal and France sit on three each. The difference matters because spot kicks often swing tense matches. It also shows how Argentina’s stars repeatedly get into dangerous areas. When opponents are forced to defend on the stretch, mistakes happen.

Why Argentina draw so many penalties

Style is the first answer. Argentina press to recover the ball high, then attack the box with runners. Wingers stay wide, fullbacks overlap and creators look for one-twos at speed. That invites last-ditch tackles and handballs under stress. VAR also plays a role, since modern reviews catch clips and trips that might have gone unseen in older tournaments. The result is a team that lives near the penalty spot.

Personnel is the second answer. Messi still draws multiple defenders and contact even when dropping deeper. Lautaro Martínez makes front-post darts that force awkward body positions from center backs. The midfield often features close control in traffic, which raises the risk for defenders who dive in. Compare this to England, Brazil, Portugal and France, who share the load across several shooters and creators. Argentina’s stars take on more central touches in the box, so the whistle comes more often. It is a repeatable pattern, not just tournament luck.

What to watch next

The natural question is simple. Will 2026 mirror 2022 with a penalty in the semifinal and another in the final if Argentina get there? The sample says it could happen again. Three spot kicks already in this tournament show the habit remains. The execution is the part to monitor, after two misses and one goal so far. Martínez has taken his chance. Messi will want another chance to correct the record.

For matchday tracking, Sofascore gives the clearest picture. You can follow live events, check expected goals from penalties and see how each attacker influences the box. The Sofascore Rating updates with every touch, tackle and duel, so you can measure performance beyond a single kick. Whether another decisive whistle arrives or not, Argentina’s ability to live in the danger zone is still their edge. If history repeats, do not be surprised if a spot kick shapes the biggest nights again.