Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates birthday with World Cup scoring records

By Arjun Nair / 25.06.2026

By Arjun Nair — 25 June 2026 — 3 min read

Lionel Messi, who celebrated his 39th birthday, has continued to set new records at the World Cup. His recent performances have seen him become the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s football at the tournament, surpassing previous records held by Miroslav Klose. Messi’s achievements come a decade after he had initially retired from international football.

Against Austria, Messi scored two goals, bringing his total to 18 goals in the World Cup, placing him at the top of the all-time goalscoring charts. This follows a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match. These goals also allowed him to overtake Brazilian legend Marta, who had 17 goals across men’s and women’s World Cups.

Messi’s goals against Austria included one in the 38th minute, described as reminiscent of his time at Barcelona. Despite missing a penalty earlier in the match, he secured another goal in the final minutes. His current form marks a significant shift, as he had previously scored only six goals in his first 19 World Cup games between the ages of 18 and 34.

Messi’s Evolving Game and Rivalry

Since turning 35, Messi has shown a new level of performance on the international stage, scoring 12 goals in his last nine World Cup matches. This tally is two goals more than his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s total of 10 World Cup goals since turning 35, and it places Messi seventh on the all-time World Cup scoring list, level with Pele.

Guillem Balague, a Spanish journalist and biographer of Messi, noted that the current version of Messi is different from his prime years, describing him as a player who now walks more but still possesses exceptional vision. Messi himself has stated that he is focused on his physical well-being, which he believes contributes to his improved play. He also hinted at the possibility of sitting out Argentina’s final group stage match against Jordan, as the team has already qualified for the round of 32.

The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo continues to captivate fans. Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo’s manager, believes their rivalry is crucial for their individual growth. Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo’s former teammate, highlighted Ronaldo’s competitive nature, stating that he always aims to be the best, especially when other top forwards are scoring.

Ronaldo’s Record-Breaking Performance

While Messi has been breaking scoring records, Cristiano Ronaldo also achieved a significant milestone. Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cups, with a double against Uzbekistan. This record-breaking moment came after a less impactful performance in Portugal’s opening 1-1 draw against DR Congo, which led to criticism and rumours about team dynamics.

Ronaldo’s goal six minutes into the match against Uzbekistan marked his scoring in consecutive World Cups from 2006 to 2026. This performance ended a streak of 11 World Cup matches without a goal for Ronaldo, a run that began after the opening match of the 2022 World Cup against Ghana. His post-match reaction, declaring “I’m back” to the camera, suggested a player keen to reaffirm his impact.

Ronaldo is now the second-oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, at 41 years and 138 days, with only Cameroon’s Roger Milla being older. With his two goals on Monday, he also became the third player to be both his country’s youngest and oldest World Cup goalscorer, a distinction he shares with Denmark’s Michael Laudrup and Messi. Both Ronaldo and Messi have scored their first and last World Cup goals for their respective countries 20 years and 11 days apart.

Despite their individual achievements, both players have adapted their styles to maintain their elite status. Their careers have seen them move away from European football’s top leagues, yet their pursuit of excellence and their ongoing rivalry remain a central focus in the sport. There is a possibility that Portugal and Argentina could meet in a quarter-final in Kansas City on July 11, should they both win their groups and advance through the knockout stages.

Source: bbc.com