The quarter-final clash of the Copa America 2024 between Argentina and Ecuador was a pure cliffhanger. The World Champions were held 1-1 by the La Tricolor but eventually emerged victorious in the penalty shootout. However, the biggest headline of the match remains star player Lionel Messi missed the kick from the spot as he tried the infamous 'Panenka.' While many are aware of this technique, others unaware are curious to know what exactly the Panenka penalty kick is and exactly how it came into fashion. The Panenka is a penalty kick technique where the kicker lightly chips the ball into the goal while taking a shot. Typically, players make a run to send the ball to either right or the left side of the net. However, the trick for Panenka is to make a slight tap underneath the ball, which makes it float into the center of the goal. If used effectively, it can help deceive the goalkeeper, who usually dives to the side to save the kick. Notably, this technique is named after renowned Czech player AntonÃn Panenka. He used it for the first time in the UEFA Euro 1976 final in Belgrade, where he outsmarted West German goalkeeper Sepp Maier to secure the championship for Czechoslovakia. While it embarrassed Maier, Panenka emphasized that this was never his intention. In fact, even today, it is rightly loathed by goalkeepers. https://twitter.com/thesetpieces/status/1598646297443143680 Yet, it eventually saw AntonÃn etch his name in the history books. While it may seem cool when scored, it has its own risks. If goalkeepers don't dive or the shooter doesn't strike the ball correctly, a Panenka attempt can appear quite foolish. There are many big examples and Lionel Messi became one of them today.