Lionel Messi sets World Cup records with 20 goals and most assists

Lionel Messi became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to reach 20 tournament goals, scoring the opener against Cape Verde in the round‑of‑16 of the 2026 competition. The same goal lifted him to 20 World Cup victories, the most by any player.

In the same match he delivered his ninth tournament assist, surpassing Diego Maradona’s record of eight and establishing a new all‑time assist benchmark. Messi also joined an exclusive club by scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches, a streak that began in Qatar 2022 and continued through the 2026 edition.

His performances have kept him atop the 2026 goal‑scoring race with seven goals, ahead of Kylian Mbappé (six) and Harry Kane (five). The Argentine captain’s achievements were highlighted across reports from Europe, Asia and the Americas.