From his 2006 debut to Argentina’s 2022 triumph, we take a look back through football history at Lionel Messi’s most iconic moments at the FIFA World Cup.
Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi has delighted fans around the world throughout his glittering career. The legendary forward, now aged 39 ahead of the 2026 World Cup, boasts the most caps for Argentina’s international team with 196 appearances.
Across his international career, Messi has competed in five FIFA World Cups, leading Argentina to lift the trophy in 2022. He was named Player of the Tournament that year and stated that the 2022 final would be his final World Cup appearance. However, as the 2026 edition approaches and with Argentina again among the favourites in the World Cup betting, there remains a chance that one of the World Cup’s greatest competitors will again take part. Here’s our recap of Lionel Messi’s World Cup wins, goals, and appearances.
What is Lionel Messi’s World Cup record?
Lionel Messi has played in five FIFA World Cups, making his debut at the competition in 2006. He became the youngest Argentine player in the tournament’s history during the team’s match against Serbia and Montenegro, where he scored both his first goal and his first assist at a World Cup, resulting in a 6-0 victory.
Since his debut, Messi has been capped in 26 World Cup matches. His most recent appearance was the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar, where he led Argentina to victory over France on penalties.
Here’s a breakdown of Lionel Messi’s World Cup record:
World Cup | Games played | Goals scored | Argentina standing |
2006 | 3 | 1 | 6th |
2010 | 5 | 0 | 5th |
2014 | 7 | 4 | 2nd |
2018 | 4 | 1 | 16th |
2022 | 7 | 7 | 1st |
2006, Germany
Messi watched Argentina’s first game in the 2006 World Cup from the sidelines, as Argentina manager José Pékerman wanted him to integrate with the team more before debuting. During their next game, Messi was substituted on in the 74th minute. He secured an assist within minutes of entering the match, then scored the final goal for a 6-0 washout.
Later in the tournament, Messi played against Mexico in the round of 16 on 24th June 2006 (his 19th birthday). He appeared to receive the best gift possible when he foudn the net in the 84th minute, but his goal was controversially ruled offside. Argentina won in extra time and were later eliminated in a 4-2 quarter-final loss against Germany, during which Messi didn’t play.
2010, South Africa
By 2010, Messi had solidified his status as one of the world’s elite footballers, having claimed his fourth La Liga title with Barca earlier in the year. Unfortunately, Argentina’s national team performance in the World Cup didn’t quite live up to expectations, despite a fresh new formation and plenty of buzz.
Messi didn’t score in the 2010 World Cup, with Argentina eventually being eliminated in the quarter-final 4-0 by Germany. He did, however, assist Carlos Tevez for his goal against Mexico in the group stage.
Messi was cited by FIFA as one of the best players at the tournament, even without scoring a goal. Some Argentinian fans judged him harshly for his performance, though, and he went into the 2014 tournament with a point to prove.
2014, Brazil
After two consecutive quarter-final eliminations, Messi led the Argentinian side to the 2014 World Cup final. He scored four goals in the tournament, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, and Nigeria twice. Eventually, Argentina fell to Germany for a third tournament in a row, losing 1-0 in extra time to finish as runners-up.
While the team didn’t lift the trophy, Messi was awarded the Golden Ball, recognising him as the best player of the tournament. He was the joint third-highest goalscorer, having scored four plus an assist, and created more chances for attacks than anyone else in the tournament. The choice drew some criticism, as Messi had only scored in the group stage, while others defended his performances in his goalless games.
2018, Russia
Following on from some struggles in qualification, there were concerns about Argentina’s potential performance heading into the 2018 World Cup. During their first match, Messi missed a potentially match-winning penalty in a 1-1 draw against Iceland, sacrificing two vital points. However, he later scored against Nigeria, becoming the first player ever to score a World Cup goal in his teens, twenties, and thirties.
After progressing into the knockout stages, Messi assisted Mercado and Agüero’s goals against France during their round of 16 match, but Argentina eventually lost 4-3. This marked Messi’s worst finish in a World Cup to date, and France would go on to win the tournament.
2022, Qatar
In 2022, Messi reversed his team’s fate from the previous tournament by claiming his first World Cup title. With seven goals across seven matches, the Argentine superstar enjoyed a brilliant tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball for the second time, having ranked second in goals scored behind his PSG teammate and final opponent, Kylian Mbappé.
By ending Argentina’s 36-year World Cup drought, Messi made history by claiming every top-tier trophy available to him at both club and international levels. Several pundits and analysts considered it to be the ultimate feather in his cap, cementing his legacy as the greatest of all time.
Messi had also been named Player of the Match in five of his seven appearances, including every game of Argentina’s knockout stage campaign. The final against France ended in a 3-3 tie before Argentina claimed a 4-2 victory on penalties, and many fans consider it to be one of the greatest World Cup matches ever.
What awards has Messi won at the World Cup?
As well as winning a World Cup in 2022, Messi has earned individual awards for his play across the tournament’s history. He earned his first Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he tied for scoring the third most goals, and took Argentina to a second-place finish.
Later, in 2022, he would earn the Golden Ball a second time. He was also awarded the Silver Boot at this tournament, recognising him as the second-most prolific goalscorer behind Mbappé.
The most iconic memories of Messi at the World Cup
Lionel Messi has created countless iconic moments at the FIFA World Cup over the years. As the most capped player in the tournament’s history, there are plenty of highlights to choose from, but we’ve narrowed down five of our favourite moments from Leo’s World Cup career:
A dynamic debut: At just 18 years old, Messi scored a goal and an assist against Serbia and Montenegro in his 2006 World Cup debut. He made history as Argentina’s youngest ever goalscorer, contributing to a huge 6-0 win.
Double trouble in Rio: During a 2014 group stage match against Nigeria, Messi scored twice in a World Cup game for the first time. This marked his third and fourth goals of the tournament, cementing Argentina’s position at the top of their group.
Saudi Arabia upset Argentina: While Messi would surely like to forget Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 underdog win over Argentina in the 2022 group stages, he did claim his first goal of the tournament, kicking off a historic path to victory.
A tense showdown: When Argentina faced the Netherlands in the 2022 knockouts, both teams gave it their all. Messi scored Argentina’s second goal, but the Netherlands equalised to take the game to extra time. Argentina eventually earned a tense victory in penalties, hanging on to World Cup glory by the skin of their teeth.
Lionel Messi, champion of the world: After a hard-fought tournament in 2022, Messi made history by lifting his first World Cup in an iconic final match against France. He scored two goals for Argentina in the process, before eventually winning on penalties again.
Where does Messi rank among the greatest World Cup players?
Lionel Messi undoubtedly ranks as one of the greatest World Cup players of all time. With 13 goals across 26 appearances in 5 tournaments, not only is he the most capped player in World Cup history, but he’s also one of the competition’s top goalscorers.
Although he’s been through highs and lows, it was his historic 2022 championship campaign that solidified his position among greats like Diego Maradona and Pelé.
What can we expect from Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup?
Following his 2022 win, Messi claimed that we had seen his final appearance at a World Cup, but there’s every possibility that he could return to the pitch in 2026. Argentina are among the favourites to earn the trophy in the 2026 World Cup winner betting odds, meaning there’s every chance we could see him lift gold for the second time. You can view the odds for every Argentina match on Betway’s World Cup betting site, including several other markets for the tournament.
Argentina’s route to the final won’t be easy, however. They face fierce competition from the 2024 Euros winner, Spain, as well as an aspiring England squad full of world-class players.
Messi World Cup FAQs
Looking for a quick answer to your questions about Messi’s performance at the World Cup? Read our FAQs for everything you need to know.
Has Lionel Messi won the World Cup?
Yes, Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after leading Argentina to a dramatic win over France in the final.
How many World Cup appearances has Lionel Messi made?
Messi has appeared in a record-setting 26 World Cup matches since his 2006 debut. His most recent cap in the tournament came in the 2022 World Cup final.
How many World Cup goals has Messi scored?
Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals in World Cup competitions, averaging 0.5 goals per game. He ranks as the joint fourth-highest goalscorer in the tournament’s history, with French player Just Fontaine.
How many World Cup assists does Lionel Messi have?
Messi has assisted in 8 World Cup goals. His most assists in one tournament came in 2022, when he contributed to 3 goals from other players.
