Lionel Messi may be entering his final World Cup in 2026, but the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico could also serve as another stage for the Argentina captain to further cement his legacy with a series of historic records.
Unlike previous editions, Messi arrives at the tournament without the burden of ending Argentina’s long wait for a World Cup title. That mission was completed in Qatar in 2022, when he led Argentina to a dramatic victory over France on penalties in the final, a match widely expected at the time to be his last appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Three and a half years later, the 38-year-old returns to captain the defending champions as they attempt to secure back-to-back World Cup titles for the first time in the nation’s history. Beyond the team objective, Messi also stands on the verge of several individual milestones that could further define his status among the sport’s all-time greats.
One of the most significant targets is the all-time World Cup scoring record. Germany’s Miroslav Klose currently leads with 16 goals, while Messi has scored 13 in his World Cup career. The Argentina captain needs four more goals to surpass Klose and become the tournament’s leading scorer in history.
France forward Kylian Mbappe is also part of that race. Mbappe overtook Messi’s tally after scoring twice in France’s opening match against Senegal, taking his total to 14 World Cup goals.
Messi is also within touching distance of another major record: most World Cup assists. He currently shares the record of eight assists with Argentina legend Diego Maradona and needs just one more to become the outright leader. Achieving that milestone would move him past a player long considered his national benchmark in international football discussions.
Another statistical target is World Cup wins. Messi has recorded 16 victories in the tournament, just one behind Klose’s record of 17. Two more wins in 2026 would see him top that list outright, a realistic possibility given Argentina’s status as defending champions and one of the favorites.
Messi already holds the record for most appearances in men’s World Cup history with 26 matches, a figure expected to increase further as Argentina progress in the competition. He is also part of an exclusive group of players to have been included in six World Cup squads, alongside Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, although only Messi and Ronaldo have appeared in all six editions.
Additional milestones could follow if Argentina reach the latter stages. A final appearance in 2026 would see Messi play in a third World Cup final, following 2014 and 2022, placing him among a select group of players in the modern era. He could also become the oldest goalscorer in a World Cup final and potentially the first captain to lift the trophy twice.
Ahead of Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, Messi posted a brief message on Instagram that reflected the collective spirit surrounding the squad. “Today together,” he wrote, urging unity among supporters of La Albiceleste.
Coach Lionel Scaloni emphasized Messi’s continued importance to the team. “Messi is always there when Argentina needs him, and tomorrow will be no different. The whole world wants to see him play, not only Argentines but football fans everywhere,” Scaloni said.
With speculation growing that 2026 may be Messi’s final World Cup, the tournament offers both a chance to defend Argentina’s crown and an opportunity to further expand a legacy already regarded as one of the greatest in football history.
