A historic parallel! Messi matches Maradona's unique World Cup record after 40 years

Lionel Messi once again carved his name into World Cup history after a sensational performance in Argentina's Round of 16 clash against Egypt at the 2026 World Cup.

Details: According to OptaJoe, the last two players to score, complete 5+ successful dribbles, and create 5+ open-play chances in a single World Cup match are Lionel Messi against Egypt in 2026 and Diego Maradona against Belgium in 1986.

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For Messi, this match was not just productive but truly historic. Leo found the net himself, set up his teammates, and became the driving force behind Argentina's stunning comeback.

It's especially symbolic that the only other name in this statistical company is Diego Maradona. His iconic performance against Belgium at the 1986 World Cup has long been considered one of the greatest individual displays in tournament history.

Messi now joins this exclusive list - at the age of 39, no less - in a match where Argentina were trailing Egypt 0-2 as late as the 79th minute, only to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory.

These numbers underscore once again that Leo isn't just scoring at World Cup 2026 - he's influencing play in every attacking phase. Goals, dribbling, chance creation - the full leadership package as Messi drags Argentina forward yet again.

Reminder: Drama to tears! Messi couldn't hold back his emotions after Argentina's insane comeback