Sweden’s football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has expressed his support for Australia’s young player Lucas Herrington, who missed a crucial penalty in the shootout against Egypt. Herrington’s miss ultimately cost his team a spot in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.
“I want to speak directly to Herrington,” Ibrahimovic said. “You’re only 18 years old, still very young. This is just the beginning of your career. The way you stepped up showed incredible courage. Not everyone would have done that. My friend, you’re the best. Listen, Herrington, if you want to reach out to me, I’m here.”
To recall, Herrington took the fourth penalty and struck the crossbar, after which Abdelmagid converted the decisive spot-kick.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Herrington admitted after the match. “All the guys worked so hard; they wanted to advance, and unfortunately, sometimes this is how football goes. I’ll keep my confidence, keep working hard, and just get back to playing.
We practiced during the week, and, you know, I scored a penalty, so the coaching staff trusted me, and I was confident in my ability. I knew where I wanted to place the ball, and unfortunately, this is just part of football. You know, I missed.”
Herrington also welcomed Ibrahimovic’s words of encouragement.
“I’m probably the first person to criticize and blame myself. So hearing that from a football legend means a lot. I’ll just keep working hard, and, you know, hopefully, I’ll get another chance like this,” the player added.
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