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Lionel Messi continues to remind the football world that he is the greatest player of all time, with one GOAT move after another. He is the all-time leading scorer in the FIFA World Cup and will extend his mark with each goal. And that he is doing it 20 years after first setting foot in the World Cup is even more remarkable.
There is no doubt that the Argentine captain, who is playing in a record sixth World Cup alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, will continue to keep his rivals awake. Messi now stands alone in FIFA World Cup history with 20 tournament goals and 122 in total as Argentina's top scorer.
But it can't end there, so let me rank the 20 goals he has scored in all the World Cups. Because every beautiful piece of jewelry deserves its own appreciation.
And yes, as expected, I will most likely update this column.
20. Goal vs. Saudi Arabia | November 22, 2022
Messi went out to look for the penalty after a foul on Leandro Paredes. But the surprise of the tournament came when Hervé Renard's Saudi Arabia emerged victorious. It would be just the spark that would eventually fuel a historic World Cup-winning campaign.
19. First goal vs. France | December 18, 2022
For me, the 2022 World Cup final was the greatest I have ever witnessed and it started with another penalty when Messi made it 1-0. We didn't know that this would be just the first chapter of an incredible football novel.
18. Goal vs. Netherlands | December 9, 2022
Messi had already provided an assist for the first goal and made it 2-0 before Holland came back to make it very entertaining with another penalty. La Pulga beautifully outplayed Andries Noppert as the Argentine faithful celebrated behind the goal.
17. Goal vs. Croatia | December 13, 2022
Another decisive penalty after the fall of Julián Álvarez. Messi's penalty crashed into the top right corner and Dominik Livaković could do nothing about it.
16. Second goal vs. France | December 18, 2022
A dramatic goal in stoppage time as Argentina took a 3-2 lead when Hugo Lloris failed to deflect a shot from Lautaro Martínez, so Messi pounced. As we all remember, the night would conclude with a penalty shootout and a glorious third World Cup title, 36 years after Diego Maradona lifted the trophy in Mexico.
15. Second goal vs. Algeria | June 16, 2026
A prototypical instinct of Messi is to react before anyone else. And that's what happened here after Zidane deflected Alexis Mac Allister's effort, but not enough. Messi jumped in and got his second goal of the night.
14. Goal vs. Jordan | June 28, 2026
Argentina, already classified and winner of the group, started without Messi, who did not need to play the full 90 minutes. As if you ever needed a complete combination to create some magic. Leo came into action in the 60th minute and, 20 minutes later, scored his second free kick in a World Cup and the 19th goal of his career in the tournament.
It was a great shot, although I think the goalkeeper and his barrier could have done it better. From another angle, Argentine stopper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez can also be seen driving the Argentine wall and telling them where to stand so Messi can find his way to the goal. It's brilliant.
As a result, Messi also became the first male player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
13. Third goal vs. Algeria | June 16, 2026
There is probably a more poetic and symbolic meaning to this goal as it officially marked his first World Cup hat trick. But it was also a lovely finish that sealed the three points and put Messi in the history books.
Receiving a ball from Nico González inside the area, the 39-year-old future star made a quick assessment and fired at Zidane with a shot that went wide of the left side. Once again, the goal was perfectly placed with tremendous precision and the stadium knew the result. We all did it.
Messi, once again, gave us an evening to never forget.
12. Goal vs. Australia | December 3, 2022
It took a dramatic save from Emiliano Martínez late on for Argentina to secure victory, but it all started with Messi's first goal during what was the 1,000th game of his career. The goal came from a free-kick cross from Leo that ended up entering the area and, with a light touch from Nicolás Otamendi, the Argentine icon placed a low shot that beat Matt Ryan.
11. First goal vs. Algeria | June 16, 2026
Messi, while turning, receives the ball from his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, and with his quintessential, almost omnipotent left foot, he makes an effort just outside the area, launching a powerful shot that beats the Algerian Luka Zidane. Zinedine's son probably saw it coming, but like many other mortals, he can't be stopped. It was the door that opened the floodgates.
Once again, as is always the case, it began and ended with Messi as he gave the ball on the left to Julián Álvarez. The Atlético de Madrid player saw his shot stopped, Messi claimed it and then shot. THAT one blocks, but since Leo never gives up, the Argentine captain headed towards the center of the area and crashed it.
Pure determination.
10. Record goal against Austria | June 22, 2026
Of course, this is the goal that was sealed in time, making him the all-time goalscorer in men's World Cup history. After missing a penalty in the 14th minute, Messi recovered by scoring a delicious shot, also thanks to a wonderful shot from Thiago Almada.
Messi took advantage of it the first time and it was clear that he was never going to fail. On the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona's “Hand of God” against England in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, Messi created another eternal memory for Argentina.
9. Goal vs. Serbia and Montenegro | June 16, 2006
Messi's first goal in a World Cup. Days before his 19th birthday, Messi came off the bench with just over 15 minutes remaining. Carlos Tevez found the then Barcelona teenager, who ran into the area and beat the goalkeeper.
It may not be your biggest goal from an aesthetic perspective, but it is one of your most significant.
8. Goal vs. Mexico | November 26, 2022
Anxiety was growing among Argentine fans as La Albiceleste was 0-0 against Mexico in the second half. But then Leo arrived and Di María gave him the ball just outside the area. The Argentine captain sent a powerful low shot past Memo Ochoa to score the first goal and the South Americans exploded.
7. Goal vs. Cape Verde | July 3, 2026
Lisandro Martínez deserves a lot of credit for this goal, as it was his beautiful, deep assist that fed Messi inside the Cape Verde box. The Argentine captain scored beautifully with his left foot and at the same time outplayed Vozinha, perhaps the only other player in the tournament who has garnered so much attention in this tournament.
This goal made it eight consecutive matches in the World Cup, extending his own record for the longest streak in history.
6. First goal vs. Nigeria | June 25, 2014
Messi finished the group stage perfectly, scoring a double against Nigeria. The first came in the second minute of action, when Ángel Di María crashed into the post and, like a bull charging at will, Leo entered the area and crashed it. A real rocket.
5. Second goal vs. Austria | June 22, 2026
Once again, as is always the case, it began and ended with Messi as he gave the ball on the left to Julián Álvarez. The Atlético de Madrid player saw his shot stopped, Messi claimed it and then shot. THAT one blocks, but since Leo never gives up, the Argentine captain headed towards the center of the area and crashed it.
Pure determination. And also, pay attention to his touch just when he puts the ball into the area. It is the definition of genius and elegance. But you have to slow down the lights to really appreciate them.
4. Second goal vs. Nigeria | June 25, 2014
The second was Messi's first and only free-kick goal in the World Cup. Nigeria came back with a goal but, of course, La Pulga regained the lead for his team with a beautiful set piece play. Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama could only watch and follow the game because he knew, as we all knew, that he was already defeated.
3. Goal vs. Iran | June 21, 2014
Iran resisted as long as it could. But when you face Messi, that is never enough. In the 90th minute, Leo picked up the ball on the edge of the area and completely hit a beautiful left foot shot that went towards the upper left part of the goal. A piece of magic and one of my favorite goals.
2. Goal vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina | June 15, 2014
Messi did not score in the 2010 World Cup, so he had to make amends four years later in Brazil. At 27 years old, he was ready to make a statement and this is one of my favorite goals because now you are seeing Leo at his best, running at full speed, unable to be stopped.
Messi drives towards the goal, passes it to Gonzalo Higuaín, recovers it and, with a lethal left-footed shot that eventually becomes a trademark in the bottom left, scores. The best thing is that he forced two Bosnian defenders to collide with each other, as they could not stop the Argentine.
They became two of the first victims of Messi's wrath.
1. Gol vs Nigeria | June 26, 2018
After wreaking havoc against the Super Eagles in 2014, the African team was probably done with this guy by the time Russia 2018 came around. But Messi wasn't it and four years later, Leo scored what is, in my opinion, his greatest World Cup goal.
He received a great pass from Éver Banega and, as a defender chased him, Leo took a butter-soft touch with his left knee, then his left foot, lowered it to his weaker right foot and smashed it past the goalkeeper.
Hang it in the Louvre? It is such a good goal that it deserves to have its own exhibition.
