Lionel Messi struck in Miami on 3 July as Argentina met Cape Verde in the World Cup 2026 last 32.
Lionel Messi added another huge line to his World Cup story after scoring Argentina’s opening goal against Cape Verde in the Round of 32. The Argentine captain found the net in the 28t minute producing the kind of calm finish fans have watched for two decades.
That goal moved Messi to seven goals at the World Cup 2026 keeping him at the top of the Golden Boot race. Before the match, 101 Great Goals reported that Messi and Kylian Mbappe were level on six goals, with Messi having played one game fewer.
🚨 Lionel Messi is the first player to score in five consecutive World Cup knockout stage games since Opta data began in 1966. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3EjFECG9Lb
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 3, 2026
A New Knockout Record
According to Opta, Messi has now been directly involved in 12 goals in World Cup knockout matches, with six goals and six assists.
That takes him past Pele and Kylian Mbappe who were both credited with 11 knockout stage goal involvements. It also makes Messi the leading player in this category since detailed World Cup data began in 1966.
Lionel Messi has scored in EIGHT consecutive World Cup games.He’s scored 12 goals across those games. 🤯🐐 pic.twitter.com/V9TL5RY4DV
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 3, 2026
Seven Goals Again
Messi has also become the first player in World Cup history to score seven or more goals in two different editions.
He scored seven goals in Qatar 2022 as Argentina lifted the trophy. Four years later, he reached that number again in 2026 despite being 39 years old during the tournament.
Messi made history earlier in the World Cup 2026 by scoring in 7 straight World Cup appearances after his goal against Jordan.
His latest goal against Cape Verde extended a stunning run, 12 goals in his last eight World Cup matches for Argentina.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
