The milestone extends a run tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Messi has already scored five goals in just two games. His success has largely come down to strong control of the ball and his ability to make high risk shots.
Messi's World Cup scoring history
Messi made his first World Cup goal in 2006 in Argentina's matchup against Serbia and Montenegro. His totals by tournament break down as follows:
- 2006: first World Cup goal against Serbia and Montenegro
- 2014 World Cup: four goals
- 2018 World Cup: one goal
- 2022 World Cup: seven goals
- 2026 World Cup so far: five goals in two games, including the two against Austria that pushed him to 18
What the data shows about his goals
The key to the player's success has largely come down to his strong control of the ball and his ability to make shots that would be nearly impossible for anyone else, experts at Northeastern's NetSI Sport research group say.
Graphics produced by the NetSI Sport research group break down each of Messi's World Cup goals over the course of his career. Data analysis for that work was provided by Brennan Klein, director for Northeastern University's NetSI Sport research group.
Mbappé closing in on the record
Messi may not hold the record for long. France's Kylan Mbappé is hot on his heels with a total of 16 World Cup goals, leaving him two behind the new mark Messi set against Austria.
