23/06/2026 04:15 - Deportes
Lionel Messi once again wrote his name in golden letters in football history. On Monday, June 22, 2026, at the Dallas Stadium, the captain of the Argentine national team delivered a memorable performance that allowed him to break four Guinness World Records and equal a mark that only two legends had achieved before.
In Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria during the second round of Group J at World Cup 2026, Messi scored both goals and reached 18 goals in World Cup tournaments, surpassing Miroslav Klose as the all-time top scorer in the competition's history. The German forward had 16 goals, a mark that Kylian Mbappé also reached on the same day with a brace in France's victory over Iraq.
Messi equalled an exclusive record that only Just Fontaine (France, Sweden 1958) and Jairzinho (Brazil, Mexico 1970) had achieved: scoring in six consecutive matches within a single World Cup tournament.
Messi's streak began at Qatar 2022:
Messi could have opened the scoring earlier. At the 9th minute of the first half, he had a penalty kick opportunity, but his shot went wide after hesitating during his run-up. However, his genius appeared when it was needed most.
At the 38th minute of the first half, the captain from Rosario appeared at the edge of the penalty area to score with class and open the scoring. In the final stretch of the match, he took advantage of a rebound to seal the definitive 2-0 and reach his historic 18 goals.
Argentina now has 6 points and a +5 goal difference in Group J, and has qualified for the Round of 16 as group leaders. The next match will be on Saturday, June 27, 2026 against Jordan, again in Dallas, at 23:00 Argentine time.
| Position | Player | Country | Goals | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 18 | 6 (2006-2026) |
| 2nd | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 4 (2002-2014) |
| 2nd | Kylian Mbappé | France | 16 | 3 (2018-2026) |
| 4th | Ronaldo Nazário | Brazil | 15 | 4 (1994-2006) |
| 5th | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 2 (1970-1974) |
Source: CNN en Español, Infobae, El Gráfico - June 22, 2026
On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Messi will turn 39 years old while playing in his sixth and likely last World Cup. With his superlative level and five goals scored in the first two matches of the tournament (three against Algeria and two against Austria), "La Pulga" (The Flea, his famous nickname) continues to grow his legend.
Messi has scored all of Argentina's goals in World Cup 2026 so far, demonstrating an amazing form that combines innate talent, experience, and a competitive spirit that drives him to fight for every ball as if it were his last.
Lionel Messi is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time. Born in Rosario, Argentina, he spent most of his career at FC Barcelona (2004-2021) before joining Paris Saint-Germain and later Inter Miami. He led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, cementing his status as a national hero. His dribbling, vision, and goal-scoring ability have made him a global icon of the sport.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
