Heartbroken and beaten, Leo Messi left Russia in 2018 after losing to France in the round of 16. He had just six goals from four campaigns. In danger of being judged as having underwhelmed on the biggest stage, Messi was light years away from Miroslav Klose’s Cup record of 16 goals. Eight years down the line, Messi, who will turn 39 in 10 days’ time, is now the co-owner of that coveted record. Now it’s on him to stretch the lead over the 27-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who briefly overtook Messi on Wednesday (14 goals). TOI takes a look at Messi’s 16 World Cup goals (four penalties) across six campaigns starting in 2006…38 years 357 daysMessi is the oldest man to score a World Cup hat-trick, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 33 years 130 days against Spain at Russia 2018. Messi is the oldest and the youngest (at 18y 357d) World Cup goal scorer for Argentina.
2006 – GERMANY
1st vs Serbia and Montenegro: It was a group league match in which Argentina won 6-0. Messi, wearing the No. 19 shirt, scored the final goal. Set up by Carlos Tevez inside the box, the then 18-year-old tapped the ball in with a right- footer past the ’keeper.
2014 – BRAZIL
2nd vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: After going without a goal in 2010, he finally found his second in a 2-1 win in Argentina’sopener. Playing a one-two with Gonzalo Higuain, Messi’s left-footer from outside the box hit the post and went in.3rd vs Iran: A tight group game at Belo Horizonte, Argentina were about to drop points when Messi rose like the phoenix in the 91st minute. He took two touches after receiving the ball and unleashed an exquisite left-footer from a distance that helped Argentina notch up the 1-0 win.4th vs Nigeria: Messi gave Argentina a third-minute lead in a tough group game which they won 3-2. Messi capitalized on a rebound following an Angel Di Maria shot that hit the cross- piece and thumped the ball into the net from close.5th vs Nigeria: Messi added a second just before the break — his trademark curled free-kick from just outside the box.
2018 – RUSSIA
6th vs Nigeria: An underrated gem in a must-win game. Receiving an Ever Banega long ball on his left thigh, Messi beat his marker with pace and control to score with his right — all without ever breaking strike.
2022 – QATAR
7th vs Saudi Arabia: Argentina’s first goal in the tournament came from a penalty. The opening game reverse (1-2) was the shocker that left the Albiceleste on the brink of elimination. 8th vs Mexico: Probably his most important goal. Argentina staring at an early exit, he found a ball from Di Maria in the 64th minute, found a pocket of space and unleashed a left-footer that beat Ochoa. It proved the elixir for Argentina9th vs Australia: Messi’s first ever goal in the knock-out round, this one in the round of 16. Following a short pass from Alexis Mac Allister inside the box, the master’s left-footer gave them a 1-0 lead in a close game that Argentina won 2-1.10th vs The Netherlands: A calm spot-kick conversion with a high left-footer that gave Argentina a 2-0 lead in a volatile quarterfinal game that they ultimately won in the tie-breaker. Messi had missed a penalty against Poland earlierbut that didn’t stop him from taking another pressure penalty.11th vs Croatia: The first goal of the semis, again from a penalty with a left-footed bullet.12th vs France: A penalty earned by Di Maria, was converted by Messi with a grounder to Hugo Lloris’ left. It gave Argentina an early 1-0 lead in the final that eventually unfolded into an epic13th vs France: The third goal bundled in from close in extra-time after Lloris had saved a stinging Lautaro Martinez shot from close.
2026 – USA, Canada & Mexico
14th vs Algeria: Receiving Rodrigo De Paul’s pass from the centre-circle, Messi ran in through the middle and beat goalie Luca Zidane with a powerful left-footer outside the box15 Mac Allister’s shot was spilled by Zidane — as his illustrious father watched from the stands — and the Argentine maestro showed a poacher’s instinct to tap it in16 Getting the ball from the left, Messi took a couple of strides and took a left-footed grounder that helped him complete his first World Cup hat-trick.
