Lionel Messi becomes all‑time World Cup top scorer at 2026 North America tournament

Lionel Messi extended his World Cup scoring streak to eight consecutive matches during the 2026 tournament in North America, raising his tournament tally to seven goals and his overall World Cup total to 20 – the highest in the competition’s history. He scored a hat‑trick against Algeria, added two more goals against Austria, and netted a free‑kick versus Jordan, putting Argentina ahead in each match.

A goal‑scoring leaderboard compiled after the group stage lists Messi jointly leading with six goals, alongside France’s Kylian Mbappé. The ranking also features Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and others with five or four goals. The list reflects contributions from players of more than thirty nations participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Messi’s achievement tied him with the tournament’s all‑time greats and set a new benchmark for future World Cups, while Argentina continued its quest for a third title.