Another day, another record shattered by Lionel Messi. At this point, it feels like the Argentine maestro rewrites football history every single time he laces up his boots, setting milestones that he instantly begins extending. His masterful free-kick against Jordan didn’t just cement his status as the game’s ultimate long-range king, it added another chapter to an unprecedented legacy of longevity and clutch brilliance. With a flawless group stage campaign officially in the rearview mirror, Messi and co. now shift their undivided attention to the knockout rounds, locking eyes on a high-stakes Round of 32 clash against debutants Cape Verde.

Messi became the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches across two tournaments.

He reached 6 goals from outside the box in World Cup history, breaking a tie with Brazil legend Rivellino (5) for the all-time tournament record.

Converted his second direct World Cup free-kick (adding to his 2014 strike vs. Nigeria), matching the all-time tournament record held by David Beckham, Rivellino, and Bernard Genghini.

Lo Celso and Messi’s strikes made Argentina just the fourth team since 1966 to score two direct free-kicks in a single World Cup match.

Messi extended his all-time tournament scoring record to 19 goals, sitting three clear of Miroslav Klose and Kylian Mbappe.

With 6 goals in just three matches, Messi leads the 2026 Golden Boot race heading into the Round of 32.