![Messi: 20 World Cup Goals](https://cdn.slatesource.com/2/d/e/2decfd56-a642-4ed5-9411-0cd965ee2ff3.webp) # Messi: 20 World Cup Goals - [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/messi-20-world-cup-goals) - By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph) - Created on Jul 31, 2026 Career World Cup goals (all-time record, men and women) 20 Goals at 2026 FIFA World Cup (tournament leader) 7 World Cups played across his career 6 Different opponents scored against (another all-time record) 14 Years between first and 20th World Cup goal 20 ## The numbernumber that changeschanges footballfootball historyhistory On 3 JulyJuly 20262026, in a RoundRound of 32 matchmatch at HardHard RockRock StadiumStadium in MiamiMiami, LionelLionel MessiMessi convertedconverted a first-timefirst-time left-footleft-foot finishfinish to reachreach 20 careercareer WorldWorld CupCup goalsgoals. No playerplayer in any editionedition of any FIFAFIFA WorldWorld CupCup, menmen or womenwomen, has scoredscored moremore. He passedpassed KylianKylian MbappeMbappe (18), MiroslavMiroslav KloseKlose (16), GerdGerd MullerMuller (14), and MartaMarta of BrazilBrazil (17 in the women'swomen's tournamenttournament) alongalong the wayway. He beganbegan this journeyjourney as a 19-year-old19-year-old substitutesubstitute in GermanyGermany 20062006 and completedcompleted it as a 38-year-old38-year-old captaincaptain playingplaying his sixthsixth and almostalmost certainlycertainly finalfinal WorldWorld CupCup. ⚽🏆🌍01.06.2006 – 01.07.2026 01.06.2006Germany 2006. One goal (Serbia and Montenegro). Messi enters the tournament as a 19-year-old sub. Argentina exit in the quarter-finals to the host nation. World Cup goals: 1. 01.06.2006 01.06.2010South Africa 2010. No goals. Argentina reach the quarter-finals before losing to Germany 4-0. Messi is shut out but named in the Team of the Tournament. World Cup goals: 1. 01.06.2010 01.07.2014Brazil 2014. Four goals. Messi wins the Golden Ball as best player as Argentina reach the final, losing to Germany 1-0 in extra time. His haul includes a winner against Nigeria and a free kick against Iran. World Cup goals: 5. 01.07.2014 01.06.2018Russia 2018. One goal (a blistering opener against Nigeria). Argentina exit in the Round of 16, beaten by eventual champions France. Messi's quietest World Cup. World Cup goals: 6. 01.06.2018 01.11.2022Qatar 2022. Seven goals and the trophy. Messi wins the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot co-winner, leading Argentina to victory over France in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. The greatest World Cup final ever played. World Cup goals: 13. 01.11.2022 01.07.2026USA, Canada and Mexico 2026. Messi scores a hat-trick against Algeria in the group stage, then adds goals against Saudi Arabia and Austria to break the all-time record. He reaches 20 against Cape Verde in the Round of 32. World Cup goals: 20. 01.07.2026 > I never thought about the numbers when I was young. I just wanted to win. But now I think about how lucky I am to still be playing and still be here. The 2026 edition alone may rank among his greatest World Cup performances. His hat-trick against Algeria in the group stage was the first by an Argentinian in any World Cup since Guillermo Stabile in 1930. He has now scored in 8 consecutive World Cup matches, a record that no other player is within three appearances of matching. The all-time top five World Cup scorers (as of 4 July 2026) 0% 1\. Lionel Messi, Argentina: 20 goals 2\. Kylian Mbappe, France: 18 goals 3\. Miroslav Klose, Germany: 16 goals 4\. Gerd Muller, West Germany: 14 goals 5\. Just Fontaine, France: 13 goals (all in 1958) Mbappe, 27 and France's captain at this tournament, is well placed to challenge the record at 2030 and 2034. He needs 3 goals in the remainder of 2026 to draw level with Messi today. But Messi continues to score. No one is safe. [All 20 of Messi's World Cup goals, ranked](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/messi-2026-world-cup-goals-ranked?utm_source=slatesource)