Lionel Messi's Penalty-Kick Woes Continue Into New Barcelona Season (Video)

Lionel Messi is a better goal scorer when the ball is in motion than when it lies stationary just 12 yards away from the opponents’ goal.

Messi missed a penalty kick Sunday in Barcelona’s win over Athletic Bilbao in the first round of the 2015-16 La Liga (Spanish first division) season. Goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz denied Messi’s spot-kick in the 31st minute.

[tweet https://twitter.com/The42_ie/status/635539506356056064 align=’center’]

The penalty miss was Messi’s 14th in 63 attempts from the spot in his Barcelona career. Penalty-kick expert Ben Lyttleton explained earlier this year how Messi has tried, and failed, with a new approach from the spot.

[tweet https://twitter.com/benlyt/status/635499435758342144 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/WhoScored/status/635499396214427648 align=’center’]

While the soccer world expects a better conversion rate from one of the all-time greats, we also must tip our collective cap to Iraizoz, who joins select company.

[tweet https://twitter.com/OptaJose/status/635499593669722113 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/MisterChiping/status/635501853254352896 align=’center’]

Messi’s miss didn’t prevent him from doing something more Messi-like later in the game. His run and blocked shot bamboozled defenders and drew gasps.

[tweet https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedSports/status/635533525098196992 align=’center’]

That’s more like it.