Lionel Messi has achieved yet another historic milestone in World Cup competition. Messi World Cup records were broken when he became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score seven goals in two different editions of the tournament. The Argentina captain reached this milestone during Argentina’s Round of 32 match against Cape Verde at Miami Stadium in Florida on Friday.

Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a clinical finish. Lisandro Martinez played a long ball from the back into the Inter Miami forward’s path. As a result, Messi had a slight advantage over the defender. Additionally, he controlled the ball with his first touch. Subsequently, he lifted it over Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha with his second touch. Furthermore, the ball went into the roof of the net to give Argentina the lead.

This goal marked Messi’s seventh of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Notably, he also scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Therefore, Messi joined an exclusive club of players achieving this feat twice. Meanwhile, Messi returned to Argentina’s starting lineup for the Cape Verde match. He had begun on the bench in Argentina’s previous group-stage match against Jordan.

The forward also became the first player to appear in 30 FIFA World Cup matches after starting against Cape Verde. Therefore, this achievement reflects his remarkable longevity in tournament football. Additionally, Messi World Cup records include numerous other achievements during 2026. He became the first player to score in seven consecutive matches at the tournament. This milestone came during Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan in their final Group J match.

Furthermore, Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick during the tournament. Moreover, he became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. Consequently, he surpassed Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16 goals. Messi has now taken his career FIFA World Cup tally to 20 goals. Therefore, his scoring record stands unmatched in tournament history.

The collection of Messi World Cup records demonstrates his exceptional consistency and quality. His ability to perform at the highest level across multiple tournament editions remains unparalleled. Additionally, his recent achievements prove that age has not diminished his competitive edge. Finally, Messi’s historic milestone reinforces his status as one of football’s all-time greats.