Another bunch of records from Messi!
The greatest footballer in history has made us accustomed to the fact that after almost every match he significantly rewrites the record books. This happened again after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Iraq.
Here’s a bunch of records he set, extended or tied as a result of that match.
Most goals in men’s World Cup: 18
Lionel Messi has now scored more goals than any other player in World Cup history (18). He left behind the former record holder Miroslav Klose (16) who is already level also with Kylian Mbappe.
Messi established his great record exactly 40 years after famous Argentina’s 2-1 win over England in World Cup 1986 with two historical goals of Maradona.
Most goals in World Cup for both genders: 18
Messi became the all-time World Cup goalscorer for both men and women. He also surpassed the women’s record (Marta, Brazil, 17 goals).
Most wins: 18
Messi has become the player with the most wins in World Cup history (18 of 28 matches).
The man whom he surpassed is again Klose (17 wins in 24 matches).
Goals in a World Cup edition by well-aged player: 5
Roger Milla scored 4 goals at his 38 years with Cameroon in 1990 what remained unique until Messi surpassed him (5) being at same age.
Goals against the most different opponents in World Cup: 12
Messi extended record set by him in last match-day. Iraq became his new, 12th, victim.
Jürgen Klinsmann, Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose (10 for each) move away from him.
Opening goals in World Cup: 10
Messi is the first player to open the scoring in 10 different World Cup matches. In particular, he netted opening goals in all last 4 Argentina games.
The next players in this ranking are far behind: Christian Vieri (Italy), Ronaldo (Brazil), David Villa (Spain) with 6 such goals.
100-percent qualification in group stages: 35 promotions of 35
With Argentina already mathematically qualified, Messi extended his unique feat. Throughout his career at club in national team level, he took part in 35 group stages of various competitions with his teams. And has qualified in all 35 occasions!
Longest scoring run in World Cup: 6 games
Messi equaled record for most consecutive World Cup matches with scoring (6).
Just Fontaine (France) set it in 1958, Jairzinho (Brazil) repeated in 1970.
Unlike them two, Messi’s run spans two editions (4 last games in 2022 and 2 first in 2026).
Most consecutive team’s goals in World Cup: 6
Messi scored 6 consecutive goals of Argentina: 1 against France (the 2022 final), 3 against Algeria, and 2 against Austria in this World Cup.
He joined a group of 4 other players who performed this feat earlier:
Eusébio (Portugal, 1966)
Paolo Rossi (Italy, 1982)
Oleg Salenko (Russia, 1994)
Enner Valencia (Ecuador, 2014-2022)
Other feats
Several of Messi’s achievements in other categories are not records (or not yet), but are also quite interesting.
*Messi became the 2nd player to have scored his team’s first 5 goals in a single World Cup edition, after Oleg Salenko with Russia in 1994 who scored 6 such goals.
*Messi’s 5 goals after the first two matches in a World Cup is a feat that was produced by 4 players in the past:
Guillermo Stábile (Argentina) in 1930
Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) in 1934 (he scored even 7 goals)
Just Fontaine (France) in 1958
Harry Kane (England) in 2018.
*Messi is one of 4 players in history to score multiple goals in 3+ consecutive World Cup matches, along with:
Guillermo Stabile in 1930 (3)
Sandor Kocsis in 1954 (4)
Kylian Mbappe in 2022-2026 (3)
*The day 22 June became 288th he scored on over his career in clubs and national team.
On June 22, 2010, he played in World Cup against Greece and did not score then.