Lionel Messi Poised to Make History in FIFA World Cup 2026

Lionel Messi is on the brink of making history at the FIFA World Cup, aiming to become the tournament's all-time leading goal-scorer. With 13 goals to his name, he is just three behind the record held by Miroslav Klose. As Messi prepares for his sixth World Cup appearance, Argentina's journey begins against Algeria on June 16. If successful, they could become the first team this century to defend their title. Read on to learn more about Messi's aspirations and Argentina's upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 14, 2026, 20:21 IST

Messi's Historic Goal-Scoring Pursuit

Lionel Messi is on the verge of making history at the FIFA World Cup, with the potential to become the tournament's all-time leading goal-scorer. Currently, he has netted 13 goals for Argentina, placing him fourth in the all-time rankings. The record is held by former German striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals. Klose has expressed his belief that Messi will surpass his record, stating his admiration for the Argentine star. He mentioned, 'With the increase in teams, there are more matches, which means more chances to score. I anticipate both Argentina and France will progress far in the tournament. The record will eventually be broken, and I would be thrilled for Messi to achieve it. I have always been a big fan of his,' Klose shared with Süddeutsche Zeitung. He also praised Argentine coach Scaloni, recalling their friendship from their time together at Lazio.

Messi's Record-Breaking World Cup Journey

Lionel Messi Set for Record-Breaking FIFA World Cup Appearance

Lionel Messi is preparing for his unprecedented sixth appearance in the FIFA World Cup. In the tournament's opening match, Guillermo Ochoa also made his sixth World Cup appearance. Cristiano Ronaldo has participated in five World Cups to date. Messi's Argentina will begin their title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Kansas City Stadium, followed by a match against Austria on June 22 at Dallas Stadium. Their final group stage match will be against Jordan on June 27. If Argentina successfully defends their title, they will be the first nation in this century to achieve such a feat.