Lionel Messi Makes History with Argentina in Friendly Match Against Iceland

Lionel Messi made history by scoring for Argentina in a 3-0 victory over Iceland, becoming the oldest player to score for the national team. This match was crucial as Argentina prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi's remarkable performance included a penalty goal, and he is on the verge of breaking several records during the upcoming tournament. With his 39th birthday approaching, Messi aims to leave a lasting legacy in World Cup history. Read on to learn more about his achievements and what lies ahead for the football legend.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 10, 2026, 20:50 IST

Historic Performance by Lionel Messi

In a remarkable display, Lionel Messi etched his name in the record books by scoring for Argentina during their 3-0 victory over Iceland on June 10 at the Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. This match served as the final preparation for the reigning champions ahead of their title defense in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on July 16. After recovering from an injury, Messi made his return as a substitute in the 69th minute. The legendary forward quickly made his presence felt by delivering a brilliant pass to Lautaro Martinez, who was subsequently fouled in the penalty area. Messi confidently converted the resulting penalty kick, scoring from close range.

Messi's Historic Milestone

With this goal, Messi has now become the oldest player to score for Argentina, surpassing the previous record held by Angel Labruna. Labruna, who played for Argentina from 1942 to 1958, had held the record for an impressive 69 years.

Oldest Goalscorers for Argentina in FIFA World Cup

Player	Age	Opponent	Competition	Year
Lionel Messi	38 Years, 11 months, 7 days	Iceland	International Friendly	2026
Angel Labruna	38 years, 9 months, 9 days	Brazil	International Friendly	1957
Nicolas Otamendi	38 years, 1 month, 20 days	Zambia	International Friendly	2026
Martin Palermo	36 years, 7 months, 15 days	Greece	FIFA World Cup	2010
Angel di Maria	36 years, 3 months, 27 days	Colombia	International Friendly	2024

Messi is on track to potentially break Martin Palermo's record as the oldest goalscorer for Argentina during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 2022 World Cup champion will celebrate his 39th birthday on June 24, during the tournament. Additionally, Messi is pursuing several records; a single goal or assist will allow him to surpass Pele's record for the most goal contributions in World Cup history. Achieving just one assist will place him ahead of Diego Maradona for the most assists in the tournament's long history. Furthermore, Messi requires only four more goals to become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. However, Kylian Mbappe is closely trailing him with 12 goals, just one behind Messi's current total of 13. Messi also has the opportunity to become the first captain to lift the World Cup trophy twice, and if Argentina reaches the final, he will be the first player to captain in three World Cup finals.