World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi has broken more records after Argentina’s 3-2 win against Cape Verde

The target itself was a reminder that even if he seemed subdued, he only needed a moment.

Perfectly timed his run to Lisandro Martinez’s pass, Messi took the ball at his own pace with his first touch and then lifted the ball over the Cape Verde goalkeeper.

Messi’s goal tally now stands at seven, which would make him the top scorer in five of the last six World Cups. There have been 13 World Cups since 1978 and his tally was enough to be top scorer in all but two.

Commenting on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Scotland striker James McFadden described the finish as “simply incredible”.

“His running is beyond the backline and his timing is perfect,” McFadden said.

“The weight of the pass he throws to him is phenomenal and his first touch is fantastic.”

ITV’s Ally McCoist was equally impressed, calling it “genius at work”.

“It’s just one record after another,” he said. “This is amazing.”

These records continue to increase.

She is the first player, male or female, to score 20 goals in the World Cup in her career.

And now he has made eight consecutive World Cup appearances, something no one else has done. And after achieving that mark in 2022, he became the first player to score seven or more goals in two separate World Cups.

What sets him apart from others is not the non-stop running, but an almost unrivaled sense of space and timing.

While others are chasing the game, Messi is working on it.

Maybe that’s why he can still score goals at this rate even though he is 39 years old. He scans the field before taking the ball, patiently waits for the right opportunity and preserves his energy until that moment comes.

But there is another side to his game in this tournament.

“Over the years, Messi has walked through matches from time to time to assess what is going on,” McFadden said.

“But here he comes back to win the ball and leads the press. It’s not a full, high-energy press, but he leads.”