Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in 34 FIFA World Cup matches across six tournaments, from Germany 2006 to the 2026 edition in North America. Only Kylian Mbappe, on 22, has scored more.
Most of that came late. Messi had 13 World Cup goals when Argentina won the trophy in 2022, at the age of 35. He then scored eight in 2026, his biggest return at any World Cup, including his first World Cup hat-trick.
He also went past Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 16 during that tournament, beating it against Austria in the group stage. His opener against Cape Verde in the round of 32 took him to 20 and made him the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. Mbappe ended level on that mark in the quarter-final and then went clear on the final weekend, scoring twice in the third-place play-off to finish on 22.
Lionel Messi’s World Cup goals by tournament
| World Cup | Messi’s goals | Argentina’s finish |
|---|---|---|
| Germany 2006 | 1 | Quarter-finals |
| South Africa 2010 | 0 | Quarter-finals |
| Brazil 2014 | 4 | Runners-up |
| Russia 2018 | 1 | Round of 16 |
| Qatar 2022 | 7 | Winners |
| USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | 8 | Runners-up |
| Total | 21 | — |
Lionel Messi 2006 World Cup goals
Messi scored his first World Cup goal against Serbia and Montenegro in his second appearance at the tournament, aged 18. He played one knockout match in 2006, coming on in the 84th minute against Mexico, and did not appear in the quarter-final that Argentina lost to Germany on penalties.
Lionel Messi 2010 World Cup goals
None. Messi went to South Africa as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and failed to score in five matches as Germany knocked Argentina out 4-0 in the quarter-final. He did register one assist, against Mexico in the round of 16.
Lionel Messi 2014 World Cup goals
Four, all in the group stage: two against Nigeria and one each against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran. Messi won the Golden Ball as player of the tournament, but went through all four knockout matches without scoring as Argentina lost the final to Germany.
Lionel Messi 2018 World Cup goals
One, a crucial goal against Nigeria in a group match Argentina had to win. They went out in the round of 16, beaten 4-3 by France in one of the matches of the tournament.
Lionel Messi 2022 World Cup goals
Seven, and the trophy. Messi scored a penalty in the opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, then a left-footed strike past Guillermo Ochoa to beat Mexico. He scored in the round of 16 against Australia, in the quarter-final against the Netherlands and in the semi-final against Croatia, and then twice in the final against France. He won a second Golden Ball.
Lionel Messi 2026 World Cup goals
Eight, his best at any World Cup, at the age of 39.
He opened the defence with a hat-trick against Algeria — the first of his World Cup career — which took him level with Klose on 16. A double against Austria in the next match put him past the record, despite a penalty missed inside the first ten minutes. He came off the bench against Jordan to curl in a free-kick as Argentina finished their group unbeaten.
In the round of 32 his opener against Cape Verde made him the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer on 20, in a match Argentina eventually won 3-2 in extra time. His 21st and last came in the round of 16 against Egypt: two down with a quarter of an hour left and a first-half penalty already missed, Messi lashed in an 83rd-minute equaliser before Enzo Fernandez headed a stoppage-time winner.
He did not score again. Argentina beat Switzerland and England to reach the final, where Messi made both of the late goals against England but was kept off the scoresheet by Spain in a 1-0 defeat at MetLife Stadium.
Every Lionel Messi World Cup goal
| Goal No. | Opponent | FIFA World Cup | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serbia and Montenegro | Germany 2006 | Group stage |
| 2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Brazil 2014 | Group stage |
| 3 | Iran | Brazil 2014 | Group stage |
| 4 | Nigeria | Brazil 2014 | Group stage |
| 5 | Nigeria | Brazil 2014 | Group stage |
| 6 | Nigeria | Russia 2018 | Group stage |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | Qatar 2022 | Group stage |
| 8 | Mexico | Qatar 2022 | Group stage |
| 9 | Australia | Qatar 2022 | Round of 16 |
| 10 | Netherlands | Qatar 2022 | Quarter-final |
| 11 | Croatia | Qatar 2022 | Semi-final |
| 12 | France | Qatar 2022 | Final |
| 13 | France | Qatar 2022 | Final |
| 14 | Algeria | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Group stage |
| 15 | Algeria | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Group stage |
| 16 | Algeria | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Group stage |
| 17 | Austria | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Group stage |
| 18 | Austria | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Group stage |
| 19 | Jordan | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Group stage |
| 20 | Cape Verde | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Round of 32 |
| 21 | Egypt | USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 | Round of 16 |
Messi’s other World Cup records
The goals are not the record he holds outright. Messi has played 34 World Cup matches, more than any other player, and has 12 World Cup assists, also the most in the tournament’s history. He is comfortably Argentina’s leading World Cup scorer: Gabriel Batistuta is next on 10, with Diego Maradona and Guillermo Stabile on eight each.
Two Golden Balls, in 2014 and 2022, make him one of only a handful of players to be named the tournament’s best more than once.
Messi, Mbappe and Klose compared
| Player | Goals | Matches | Goals per match | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe | 22 | 22 | 1.00 | 3 |
| Lionel Messi | 21 | 34 | 0.62 | 6 |
| Miroslav Klose | 16 | 24 | 0.67 | 4 |
Messi needed six tournaments and 34 matches for his 21; Mbappe has 22 from three tournaments and 22 matches. Cristiano Ronaldo, for comparison, has 11 World Cup goals from six tournaments despite holding the all-time record for international goals with 146.
Lionel Messi World Cup goals: frequently asked questions
How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?
Twenty-one, in 34 matches across six World Cups.
Did Messi break the World Cup goalscoring record?
Yes, but he did not keep it. He passed Miroslav Klose’s 16 against Austria in 2026 and went top of the all-time list on 20 against Cape Verde, before Kylian Mbappe finished on 22.
How many did Messi score at the 2026 World Cup?
Eight — a hat-trick against Algeria, a double against Austria, and one each against Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt.
Has Messi scored in a World Cup final?
Twice in the same match, against France in the 2022 final, which Argentina won on penalties.
When did Messi score his first World Cup goal?
Against Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006, aged 18, in his second appearance at the tournament.
See also our lists of the most goals in FIFA World Cup history, Kylian Mbappe’s World Cup goals and the most goals scored in World Cup finals.
Featured photo: AFP / Mauro Pimentel