Lionel Messi sets World Cup goal record as retirement speculation rises

At 39, Lionel Messi continues to dominate the FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring five goals in Argentina's first two matches – a hat‑trick against Algeria and a brace versus Austria – to bring his tournament tally to 18, the most ever in the competition’s history, surpassing Miroslav Klose.

Messi’s friends revealed his personal stance on retirement. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari said Messi told him, “No quiero ni pensar en eso” (I don’t want to think about that), when asked about his future. Messi added he lives “one day at a time” and does not focus on the 2030 World Cup, though he left the door open for a possible appearance.

Experts pointed to Messi’s longevity, attributing it to tailored training, nutrition and recovery routines that enable elite athletes to perform into their late thirties. While his record‑breaking goal total sets a new benchmark, the single‑tournament scoring record of 13 by Just Fontaine (1958) remains intact.

The Argentine captain’s continued success fuels Argentina’s title defence and keeps global attention on the tournament, even as discussions about his post‑playing career emerge.