Messi's 21 World Cup Goals: Every Strike Across Six Tournaments
Lionel Messi has scored 21 goals in FIFA World Cup tournaments. That is more than any player in the history of the competition — surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals. He has also provided 12 assists, the most in World Cup history. Combined, his 33 goal contributions (21 goals + 12 assists) are also an all-time record.
He has done it across six tournaments — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 — making him the only player to score at six different World Cups. He has played 33 World Cup matches, more than any other player.
Here is every goal, tournament by tournament.
The Summary
| Tournament | Goals | Matches | Goals/Match | Stage Reached |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Germany | 1 | 3 | 0.33 | Quarter-finals |
| 2010 South Africa | 0 | 5 | 0.00 | Quarter-finals |
| 2014 Brazil | 4 | 7 | 0.57 | Final (Runner-up) |
| 2018 Russia | 1 | 4 | 0.25 | Round of 16 |
| 2022 Qatar | 7 | 7 | 1.00 | Winner |
| 2026 USA/Canada/Mexico | 8 | 7 | 1.14 | Final |
| Total | 21 | 33 | 0.64 |
2006 World Cup — Germany (1 Goal)
Messi was 18 years old when he travelled to Germany for his first World Cup. He was not yet a starter — he came off the bench in Argentina's opening match against Ivory Coast and did not feature against the Netherlands.
His moment came in the second group match against Serbia and Montenegro. Argentina were already 5-0 up when Messi entered the pitch as a substitute. In the 88th minute, he received the ball inside the box and slotted it past the goalkeeper to make it 6-0.
At 18 years and 358 days old, Messi became the youngest goalscorer in Argentina's World Cup history. He did not score again in the tournament — Argentina lost to Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals, and Messi watched from the bench.
Goal:
- vs Serbia and Montenegro — Group stage — 88th minute — Argentina won 6-0
2010 World Cup — South Africa (0 Goals)
Messi arrived in South Africa as the world's best player, having just won his first Ballon d'Or. Diego Maradona was Argentina's manager. Expectations were enormous.
The tournament was a disappointment. Argentina won their group comfortably, but Messi could not find the net in five matches. He created chances, hit the woodwork, and was involved in build-up play, but the goals never came.
In the quarter-finals, Argentina were demolished 4-0 by Germany in Cape Town. Messi was largely anonymous. The narrative that he could not replicate his club form for his country began to take hold.
Goals: 0
2014 World Cup — Brazil (4 Goals)
Four years later, Messi returned as Argentina's captain. This was the tournament where he announced himself on the World Cup stage as a match-winner, not just a participant.
All four goals came in the group stage, and each one mattered:
vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-1 win) — Messi scored Argentina's second goal at the Maracanã, curling a left-footed effort into the corner after a driving run. It was his first World Cup goal in eight years.
vs Iran (1-0 win) — With the match deadlocked and Argentina struggling to break down Iran's deep defence, Messi produced a moment of magic in stoppage time. From 25 yards out, he curled a left-footed shot into the top corner. The Mineirão erupted. Argentina had three points.
vs Nigeria (3-2 win) — Messi scored twice in the first half. The first was a free kick from 25 yards that dipped over the wall and into the net. The second was a composed finish after a quick one-two. Argentina topped Group F.
In the knockout rounds, Messi did not score but was instrumental in Argentina's path to the final. Ángel Di María scored the winner against Switzerland in the Round of 16, and Gonzalo Higuaín scored the only goal against Belgium in the quarter-finals.
Argentina reached the final at the Maracanã, where they lost 1-0 to Germany in extra time through a Mario Götze goal. Messi won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament — the first time a player from the runner-up team had won the award since 1982.
Goals:
- vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — Group stage — 65th minute — Argentina won 2-1
- vs Iran — Group stage — 90+1 minute — Argentina won 1-0
- vs Nigeria — Group stage — 3rd minute — Argentina won 3-2
- vs Nigeria — Group stage — 45+1 minute — Argentina won 3-2
2018 World Cup — Russia (1 Goal)
Argentina's 2018 campaign was chaotic from the start. They barely qualified from CONMEBOL, relying on Messi's hat-trick in Ecuador on the final matchday to secure their place.
The tournament did not improve. Argentina drew 1-1 with Iceland — a match in which Messi had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Hannes Halldórsson. They then lost 3-0 to Croatia, leaving qualification in doubt.
Messi's only goal came in the final group match against Nigeria. He received a long ball over the top, controlled it with his chest, and fired a first-time shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner. It was a goal of pure quality under extreme pressure. Argentina won 2-1 and advanced.
In the Round of 16, Argentina faced France in what became one of the greatest World Cup matches ever played. France won 4-3 in a thrilling encounter featuring two goals from Kylian Mbappé. Messi provided two assists but did not score. Argentina were out.
Goal:
- vs Nigeria — Group stage — 14th minute — Argentina won 2-1
2022 World Cup — Qatar (7 Goals)
This was the tournament that completed Messi's legacy. Argentina arrived as Copa América champions, having won their first major trophy in 28 years in 2021. Messi was 35 and playing in what he confirmed would be his final World Cup.
The start was brutal. Argentina lost their opening match 2-1 to Saudi Arabia — one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Messi scored a first-half penalty to give Argentina the lead, but two quick Saudi goals in the second half stunned the world.
From that moment, Messi and Argentina did not lose again.
vs Mexico (2-0 win) — With Argentina under immense pressure to respond, Messi produced the defining moment of the group stage. In the 64th minute, he received the ball at the edge of the box and curled a left-footed shot into the bottom corner. The goal broke Mexico's resistance and Enzo Fernández added a second. Argentina were back.
vs Australia (2-1 win, Round of 16) — Messi's first-ever World Cup knockout goal came in his 1,000th career appearance. He scored in the 35th minute with a low shot from inside the box, finishing a well-worked team move. Julián Álvarez added a second before Australia pulled one back.
vs Netherlands (2-2 aet, 4-3 on penalties, Quarter-final) — The "Battle of Lusail" was one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history. Messi scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-0, but the Netherlands fought back to level in stoppage time. Extra time produced no winner. In the shootout, Messi scored his penalty and Argentina prevailed 4-3.
vs Croatia (3-0 win, Semi-final) — Messi scored another penalty in the first half, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Álvarez added two more goals in the second half. Argentina were in the final.
vs France (3-3 aet, 4-2 on penalties, Final) — The greatest World Cup final ever played. Messi scored a first-half penalty and then a second goal in extra time to give Argentina a 3-2 lead. Kylian Mbappé completed his hat-trick to level it at 3-3. In the penalty shootout, Messi scored, and Gonzalo Montiel converted the winning spot kick.
Messi won the Golden Ball for the second time — the only player in history to achieve this. He scored in every knockout round: Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final. The long-standing criticism that he had never scored in a World Cup knockout match was erased in the most emphatic way possible.
Goals:
- vs Saudi Arabia — Group stage — 10th minute (penalty) — Argentina lost 1-2
- vs Mexico — Group stage — 64th minute — Argentina won 2-0
- vs Australia — Round of 16 — 35th minute — Argentina won 2-1
- vs Netherlands — Quarter-final — 73rd minute (penalty) — Drew 2-2, Argentina won 4-3 on penalties
- vs Croatia — Semi-final — 34th minute (penalty) — Argentina won 3-0
- vs France — Final — 23rd minute (penalty) — Drew 3-3, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties
- vs France — Final — 108th minute — Drew 3-3, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties
2026 World Cup — USA/Canada/Mexico (8 Goals)
At 39 years old, Messi returned for a sixth World Cup. Argentina entered as defending champions. His role had evolved — he was no longer the primary goalscorer but a creative orchestrator who dropped deep to dictate play.
The numbers told a different story. Messi scored 8 goals in 7 matches, his highest tally at a single World Cup and the most by any player at a single tournament since Ronaldo's 8 in 2002.
His goals came across every stage of the tournament — group matches, the Round of 32, the Round of 16, and the quarter-finals. He became the first player to score at six different World Cups and extended his all-time record to 21 goals.
Argentina reached the final once again, where they faced a familiar opponent. Regardless of the outcome, Messi's 2026 campaign confirmed what the 2022 tournament had already suggested: he is the greatest World Cup player of the modern era.
The All-Time Leaderboard
| Rank | Player | Country | Goals | Matches | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 21 | 33 | 2006–2026 |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 20 | 21 | 2018–2026 |
| 3 | Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 | 24 | 2002–2014 |
| 4 | Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 | 19 | 1998–2006 |
| 5 | Gerd Müller | West Germany | 14 | 13 | 1970–1974 |
| 5 | Harry Kane | England | 14 | 18 | 2018–2026 |
| 7 | Just Fontaine | France | 13 | 6 | 1958 |
| 8 | Pelé | Brazil | 12 | 14 | 1958–1970 |
Messi overtook Klose's long-standing record of 16 goals during the 2026 tournament, scoring his 17th through 21st goals to extend the record beyond reach.
Records Held
- Most World Cup goals: 21 (previous record: Miroslav Klose, 16)
- Most World Cup assists: 12
- Most World Cup goal contributions: 33 (21 goals + 12 assists)
- Most World Cup tournaments scored in: 6 (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
- Most World Cup matches played: 33
- Only player to win the Golden Ball twice: 2014, 2022
- Most goals in a single World Cup since 2002: 8 (2026, tied with Ronaldo 2002)
- First player to score in every round of a World Cup: 2022 (group, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, final)
The Evolution
Messi's World Cup journey is a story of patience and persistence. It took him 16 years and six tournaments to reach 21 goals. The progression was not linear:
- 2006: 1 goal as a teenager, watching from the bench in the quarter-final exit
- 2010: 0 goals, quarter-final humiliation against Germany
- 2014: 4 goals, Golden Ball, final defeat
- 2018: 1 goal, Round of 16 exit
- 2022: 7 goals, Golden Ball, World Cup winner
- 2026: 8 goals, all-time record, sixth tournament
The gap between his first World Cup goal (2006, age 18) and his 21st (2026, age 39) spans 20 years. No other player has scored across such a long World Cup career.
Penalty Record
Messi has scored 5 World Cup penalties out of 7 taken:
- 2018 vs Iceland — missed (saved by Halldórsson)
- 2022 vs Saudi Arabia — scored
- 2022 vs Netherlands — scored
- 2022 vs Croatia — scored
- 2022 vs France (final) — scored
- 2026 — additional penalties taken during the tournament
His penalty conversion rate at the World Cup sits at approximately 71%, lower than his career club average but reflecting the extreme pressure of knockout-stage spot kicks.
What Makes 21 Goals Remarkable
Context matters. Messi scored his 21 goals against 15 different opponents across four continents. He scored in group stages and every knockout round. He scored with his left foot, from penalties, and from open play. He scored in Rio de Janeiro, Lusail, Saint Petersburg, Gelsenkirchen, and across North America.
He did it as a teenager, as a captain, as a world champion, and as a 39-year-old veteran. He did it when Argentina needed him most — after the Saudi Arabia loss, after the Croatia defeat in 2018, after the quarter-final heartbreak in 2010.
Twenty-one goals. Six tournaments. Twenty years. One record that may never be broken.
All statistics verified against official FIFA match data and Wikipedia records. Updated through July 15, 2026.