Messi sets new World Cup record with seventh goal of 2026

Lionel Messi has added yet another entry to his crowded record collection. The Argentina captain became the first player in World Cup history to score seven or more goals at two different editions of the tournament. He reached the mark against Cape Verde in the round of 32.

The milestone spans two campaigns four years apart. Messi scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup, inspiring Argentina to the title in Qatar. He has now matched that tally in 2026, netting his seventh in the win over Cape Verde.

His opener in Miami was typically clinical. Messi timed a run behind the defence, took a touch and hammered into the roof of the net after 29 minutes. It gave the holders an early lead in a match that became a classic.

The goal carried further significance, too. It was Messi’s 20th career World Cup strike, extending his own all-time record. He also became the first player to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches, another mark that stands alone.

The record moved him clear in the Golden Boot race, as well. His seventh goal of the tournament took him one ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappe, the man who pipped him to the award in 2022.

There was history before kick-off, too. Messi became the first player ever to make 30 World Cup appearances, adding to his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo in that particular list.

His latest feats came in his sixth World Cup, an achievement no man had managed before this tournament. At 39, he shows little sign of slowing down.

Argentina now face Egypt in the last 16 in Atlanta on Tuesday, where Messi will look to extend his remarkable scoring streak still further.