Unbelievable day of crashing records by single man!
In his 200th senior appearance for Argentina, Lionel Messi broke world records in 10 different categories and tied them in two more.
An incredible feat for one player in one day! There are no precedents for this in world football history, not even close.
Here they are listed.
BEATEN RECORDS
Most World Cup editions: 6
Messi became the first ever player to appear in six different editions of the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to join him very soon.
Most consecutive games in World Cup: 24
Messi has played in all Argentina’s last 24 World Cup matches. He surpassed Paolo Maldini who has played Italy’s 23 consecutive games without missing any.
Argentina hasn’t played a World Cup match without Messi since the 2006 quarter-final against Germany.
Most World Cup games scoring: 12
Messi surpassed Ronaldo (Brazil) and Miroslav Klose (Germany) who scored in 11 games.
Oldest brace in World Cups: 38 years 357 days
At 38 years 357 days old, Messi is the oldest player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match, surpassing Roger Milla (38 years 34 days for Cameroon in 1990).
Oldest hat-trick in World Cups: 38 years 357 days
In this category, Messi advanced the competition’s record enormously, by more than 5 years! Cristiano Ronaldo, previous holder, figured with a hat-trick at 33 years 130 days (in 2018). More detailed information – in our special post on this topic.
Most World Cup goals from outside the box: 6
Two of three Messi’s goals vs Algeria were long-range. Thus, he surpassed Roberto Rivellino who scored for Brazil 5 (of his total 6) goals from outside the box.
Most World Cup goals against African teams: 6
Messi has now 6 such goals (also 3 vs Nigeria), more than anyone else. Oleg Salenko (Russia) with 5 goals (all in a single game vs Cameroon in 1994) is beaten.
Raúl (Spain) and Diego Forlán (Uruguay) are next with 4 goals.
Most rivals to score against at World Cup: 11
Algeria became the 11th victim for Messi in the competition. Previously he scored against Serbia, Mexico, Nigeria, Bosnia, Iran, Croatia, Australia, Netherlands, France, Saudi Arabia.
Former record holders were Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany), Ronaldo (Brazil) and Miroslav Klose (Germany), with 10 victims each.
Longest scoring span at World Cup: 20 years 1 days
Messi surpassed the record for the longest gap between a player’s first and last goal in the history of the World Cup that now stands at 20 years 1 day (Lionel has scored his first on 16 June 2006 vs Serbia).
Previous holder was Cristiano Ronaldo: 16 years 164 days (2006-2022) who can yet compete with Messi for restoring his leadership in this edition.
Most hat-tricks for national team: 11
This hat-trick is Messi’s 11th for Argentina. No one in history of all national teams had more.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed to score 10 hat-tricks for Portugal.
In the beginning of past century, Vivian Woodward notched 10 for England and England Amateurs comprising.
TIED RECORDS
Most World Cup editions with scoring: 5
Lionel Messi became the second man to score at five World Cups (in all he participated except 2010), after Cristiano Ronaldo who managed to score in each of his 5 editions (and can add the 6th).
Most World Cup goals: 16
Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s record that stands since 16, with high probability to beat it soon, given his brilliant form.
Lionel Messi broke also the records of the most BALLON D’OR (8) and in the picture, the most IFFHS Awards (14) !