Updated recently: 4.7.2026 / 11:12

The Argentina national team star has recorded a series of historic milestones in recent weeks, and more is yet to come. The full numbers behind the rare phenomenon

Summary: Argentina - Cape Verde 2:3/Here11

Messi, 39, is currently ranked first in the scorers table with seven goals. He has never won the World Cup Golden Boot (in Qatar he finished second with 7 - one less than Mbappe).
The great star was involved in 12 knockout goals (six goals, six assists) - an all-time record. In his last six knockout appearances he has been involved in ten goals (six goals, four assists).
Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in eight consecutive appearances.
The Flea has scored in five consecutive World Cup knockout matches - an achievement previously reached only by Gyorgy Sarosi of Hungary (1934-1938) and Vava of Brazil (1958-1962).
He is just one goal away from equaling Guillermo Stabile's record (8 goals in 1930) as Argentina's top scorer in a single World Cup.
The South American record is within reach - it belongs to Brazilian Ademir (9 goals in 1950).

May it never end. Messi/GettyImages, Pablo Morano/BSR Agency

Messi is the first player ever to score seven goals or more in two different World Cups (2022 and 2026). Mbappe may join him (six goals in the current tournament).
The Flea has scored against 14 of the 22 teams he has faced in the World Cup: Montenegro, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia, Holland, Croatia, France, Algeria, Austria, Jordan and Cape Verde.
Against Cape Verde he made his 30th World Cup appearance - more than any other player in history. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with 26 such appearances.
In the round of 16, Messi will equal Miroslav Klose's record with 14 appearances in the knockout stage. If he reaches the quarterfinals, he will also break that record.
At the age of 39 and 9 days, Messi became the third-oldest player to score in the knockout stage of a World Cup, after Cristiano Ronaldo (42 and 39 days) and Pepe (39 and 283 days).
Since turning 35, Messi has scored 14 World Cup goals. Next is Roger Milla of Cameroon with only five.