Lionel Messi has the world at his feet. The Argentine star starred in a historic match by scoring a hat trick against Algeria in Argentina’s debut in the 2026 World Cup.
With his three goals, Messi not only secured the three points for his team in group J of the World Cupbut is going through a unique moment in the one who can break several football records.
For example, Messi’s hat trick allowed him to equal the German Miroslav Klose is the all-time top scorer in the World Cup, with 16 goals.
The Argentine also equaled the German as the player with the most games won in the World Cup, also with 16.
However, it is not the only record that Messi could break in this World Cup edition, since it could surpass marks of soccer legends such as Pelé and Rivelino.
If Messi manages to score a goal in his next match against Austria, on June 22, he will become the top scorer in the most important football competition.
The list of the top scorers in the World Cup is made up of:
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 16 goals
- Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16 goals
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil): 15 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France): 14 goals
- Gerd Müller (West Germany): 14 goals
- Just Fontaine (France): 13 goals
- Pele (Brazil): 12 goals
Goals and assists
With his participation on June 16 against Algeria, in Kansas, United States, Messi already surpassed Pelé in the goals and assists section.
Before the World Cup, Messi shared with the Brazilian genius the record for the most direct goal contributions, both with 21 (Messi had 13 goals and eight assists). With the three goals scored against Algeria, he has 24 goal contributions.
Furthermore, with the goal scored in the 17th minute from outside the area, He equaled the five goals that kept Brazilian Rivelino at the top of long-distance gunners.
Lionel Messi records
- First player to have played in six World Cups (Cristiano Ronaldo can equal him today against Congo)
- Player with the most World Cup appearances (27)
- Player with the most minutes in World Cups (2,394)
- Player who has been captain the most times in a World Cup (20)
- Captain who has scored the most goals in a final (2)
- All-time top scorer (16, tied with Miroslav Klose)
- Player with the most goals and assists in a World Cup (16 goals and eight assists)
- Player with the most goals from outside the area (5, tied with Brazilian Rivelino)
- Only player to have scored in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinal and final of the same edition of the World Cup
- Only player to have scored as a sub-20, twenty-something or thirty-something in a World Cup
- Player who scored the first goal the most times in a World Cup match (9)
- Greater distance between the first goal in a World Cup and the last (exact 20 years: June 16, 2006 against Serbia and Montenegro and June 16, 2026 against Algeria)
- Only player with two World Cup Ballon d’Ors (2014 and 2022)
- Most times chosen as Best Player in a World Cup match (12)