Messi: I need to improve my penalties
Lionel Messi is almost flawless but there is one aspect of his game that the Barcelona superstar wants to improve.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zdYnpmXCeq8AqFV5fu6Qgg.jpg)
Barcelona superstar and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi said he needs to improve his penalty taking.
Regarded as one the greatest players of all-time, Messi's game is almost flawless having won 33 trophies with Barcelona and numerous individual accolades.
However, the silky-skilled attacker would like to improve one aspect of his football – penalties.
Messi, who missed a spot-kick against Iceland at the World Cup in Russia, told Catalunya Radio prior to Saturday's 2-1 LaLiga win over Real Sociedad: "I would like to be more effective from the penalty spot.
"But it's difficult to work on penalties. It's not the same taking them in training as it is in a game. You can have an idea in your head or something you have worked on, but it's more difficult than it seems.
"The goalkeeper has a lot to do with it, too. If they guess right, they save it. But it's obvious that I'd like to get better at taking penalties."
All over in Anoeta!Real Sociedad 1-2 FC Barcelona Aritz Elustondo / Suárez and Dembélé September 15, 2018
On his role in general for Barcelona, the Argentine attacker added: "It's normal that your game evolves. When I made my debut I was 17.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"I played in a different position and in a different way back then. Football has changed since, as has my way of playing and moving around the pitch.
"I like where I play now the most. Teams sit deep and put a lot of people in the middle, so it's easier getting the ball a little deeper and coming inside from further out. Moving to the wing means that a lot of the time, the full-back doesn't know what they're meant to do. In the middle, it's harder to get the ball, because there are fewer spaces and a lot of bodies."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack