History in the making! Messi breaks his personal World Cup goal record

Lionel Messi has set a new personal record for most goals scored at a single World Cup, continuing to carry Argentina into the 2026 World Cup playoffs.

Details: The 39-year-old Argentina forward found the net against Egypt in the Round of 16, a match that ended with a 3-2 victory for the Albiceleste.

• See also: A level battle with no room for error: prediction for Switzerland vs Colombia - 07.07.2026

Messi now has eight goals in the tournament held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada—his best tally ever at a World Cup.

According to OptaJoe, Messi is the first player since 1970 to score eight goals in his team's first five matches at a single World Cup. The last to achieve something similar was Gerd Müller, who netted 10 times at the 1970 World Cup.

What's even more impressive: all eight of Messi's goals at the 2026 World Cup have come from open play. For comparison, in Qatar 2022, the Argentine star scored seven goals, but three of those were penalties.

At 39, Messi continues to rewrite history. After a dramatic win over Egypt, Argentina has advanced to the quarterfinals, and Leo has a golden opportunity to push his record even higher.

Reminder: Shock at the World Cup! Messi sets an unwanted record