23/06/2026 04:01 - Deportes
The night of Monday, June 22, 2026 will be etched forever in the annals of world soccer. Lionel Messi, at 38 years old and turning 39 this Wednesday, demonstrated once again why he is considered the greatest of all time. He scored both goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in the second round of Group J at the 2026 World Cup, securing qualification for the Round of 16 for the 'Albiceleste' (Argentina's national team nickname).
The most impressive aspect was not just the result, but the records the 'Rosarino' broke in just 90 minutes. The Guinness World Records organization officially validated four historic milestones that consolidate Messi as the most influential footballer in World Cup history.
Messi equaled a mark that only two legends had achieved: scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches. The other two footballers to achieve this feat were:
The path of this impressive streak began in the decisive stages of Qatar 2022:
| Date | Match | Goal Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 12/03/2022 | Argentina 2-1 Australia (Round of 16) | Goal at 35' |
| 12/09/2022 | Argentina 2-2 Netherlands (Quarter-finals) | Penalty at 73' |
| 12/13/2022 | Argentina 3-0 Croatia (Semi-final) | Penalty at 34' |
| 12/18/2022 | Argentina 3-3 France (Final) | Penalty 23' + Goal 108' |
| 06/16/2026 | Argentina 3-0 Algeria (Group J) | Hat-trick: 17', 60', 76' |
| 06/22/2026 | Argentina 2-0 Austria (Group J) | Goal at 38' (1st Half) |
In the match against Austria, Messi missed a penalty in the 9th minute of the first half but recovered quickly to open the scoring at minute 38 after a great collective play involving Facundo Medina and Thiago Almada. In the final stretch, he sealed the definitive 2-0.
The Argentine national team, leader of Group J with 6 points and a +5 goal difference, will close the group stage this Saturday, June 27, 2026 against Jordan, again in Dallas, at 23:00 Argentina time.
Messi, who has already scored five goals in the tournament (three against Algeria and two against Austria), will look to continue expanding his legend in what could be his last World Cup.
Just Fontaine (1933-2023) was a French striker who scored 13 goals in the 1958 Sweden World Cup, a record for goals in a single edition. He scored in all six matches France played.
Jairzinho (b. 1944) is a former Brazilian player who scored in all six matches of Mexico 1970, a tournament Brazil won with the famous team that included Pelé, Tostão, and Rivelino.
Sources: Infobae | El Gráfico
Alfredo S. Quiroga
