WC top scorer at 39 

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Lionel Messi has already broken countless World Cup records during this summer’s tournament. Scoring a hat-trick against Algeria (3-0), Messi broke or equalled five different records. Then on matchday 2 against Austria (2-0), he broke Miroslav Klose’s record to become the World Cup top goalscorer with 18 goals. He is now up to 21.

Against Jordan in the final group game, another record followed. Messi scored a free kick to secure a 3-1 victory on match-day 3. Not only did Messi increase his tally to 19 goals across five different World Cups. But the 39-year-old Inter Miami star also became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games. Messi has not only scored in all three games at this tournament but also in the last four consecutive games at the 2022 World Cup. That record has now been extended further in two tense knockout ties.

Argentina were expected to breeze past minnows Cape Verde in the round of 32 but were taken to extra-time by the heroic African side. Nevertheless, Messi scored another fine goal as his nation eventually won 3-2. It looked like Messi’s World Cup career would be over in the round of 16, with Argentina 2-0 down to Egypt in the 79th minute, but the 39 year old led a magnificent comeback, assisting and scoring as the South Americans won 3-2. It means that he has now scored in nine World Cup matches in-a-row.

In Qatar, Messi scored in six of seven games. The only time he was left off the scoresheet was against Saudi Arabia. Messi has now obliterated a record set by the Brazilian forward Jairzinho. He had scored in all six games at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, leading Brazil to their third World Cup triumph. That record is history as Messi continues to set new benchmarks at the 2026 World Cup in his bid to lead his country to back-to-back titles.