Lionel Messi's 7 Most Jaw-Dropping World Cup Records
Lionel Messi's career goals total is staggering. But his World Cup records go even further. See every number from his legendary run to the 2026 World Cup.
Lionel Messi is arguably one of the most famous footballers on the planet, considered by many as one of the modern greats of the game along with Cristiano Ronaldo. He has an illustrious record in football, and his World Cup record is equally impressive. Today we will look at 7 of Lionel Messi’s World Cup achievements that make him one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Lionel Messi's 7 Most Jaw-Dropping World Cup Records
Let us take a look at 7 most incredible records set by Lionel Messi in World Cups.
First Male Player to Play 6 Different World Cup Tournaments
Lionel Messi became the first male player to play in 6 different world cups when he set his foot on the field for the FIFA World Cup 2026 group J match against Algeria on 17th June 2026.
Messi made his first World Cup appearance in 2006 in Germany, and since then has featured in every World Cup till 2026.
This achievement is only matched by another Cristaino Ronaldo who will be reaching the milestone on the same day in a match against Democratic Republic of Congo.
Most Appearances in World Cups
Lionel Messi holds the record for most World Cup appearances for national team. He has appeared in 27 matches for Argentina, which is the most by any footballer in the world.
Joint Highest Goal Scorer in World Cup
Lionel Messi became the joint highest goal scorers in FIFA World Cups when he scored a hat-trick against Algeria on 17th June 2026. He is now tied with the German legend Miroslav Klose on 16 goals in World Cups. The Brazilian great Ronaldo is second on the list followed by modern French star Kylian Mbappé with 14 goals.
Maiden Hat-Trick in FIFA World Cup
Messi scored his maiden hat-trick in FIFA World Cups on 17th June 2026. His hat-trick came against Algeria, which sealed the game in Argentina’s favour with a 3-0 final score. The hat-trick is made more special as at 38 years and 357 days, he became the oldest player to score 2+ goals in a World Cup match.
World Cup Winning Captain
Messi became the second captain after Diego Maradona to lift the World Cup for Argentina in 2022 which was held at Qatar. This was Argentina's first World Cup title after 36 years. Messi came dangerously close to winning the title in 2014, when Germany defeated them by 1-0 margin with an extra time goal by Mario Gotze.
Only Footballer to Win Two Golden Balls in FIFA World Cup
Lionel Messi is the only footballer to win two Golden Balls in FIFA World Cups. He achieved the unique record when he was awarded the player of the tournament at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups.
Most Player of the Match Awards in FIFA World Cup
We have read so many records set by Messi in World Cups, and this one is just another feather added to the cap of one of the legends of football. Lionel Messi holds the most number of player of the match awards in FIFA World Cups. He had won 11 player of the match awards till 2022 finals, he added his 12th when Argentina routed Algeria 3-0 on 17th June, with Messi scoring a hat-trick for the first time in World Cups.
That was all about Lionel Messi and 7 of his extraordinary feats in the World Cups. Check out some more interesting articles from the general knowledge section to boost your knowledge of national and international topics. Stay connected with Jagran Josh for more topics like this.
Mriganka Chakraborty is a seasoned digital journalist and communications professional who is currently working as Deputy Manager at Jagran Josh, where he leads the General Knowledge Section. As a subject matter expert with 8+ years of editorial experience, he has created authoritative content that is trusted by millions of readers around the world in Science, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Sports, and Technology. His extensive expertise in these subjects enables him to present complex topics in an engaging, accurate, and reader-friendly manner to a global audience, making learning addictive and fun.
His background in a wide range of content areas and his ability to move between them make him a trusted voice to readers who want reliable, well-researched content across a variety of disciplines.
In his leisure time, Mriganka enjoys reading fiction novels and watching action and thriller movies, and cricket, which not only hone his storytelling skills but also keep his editorial vision fresh and dynamic.
