Lionel Messi once again etched his name into football history by inspiring Argentina to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 39-year-old captain not only kept Argentina's title defense alive but also shattered 11 World Cup records in a single match, surpassing legendary compatriot Diego Maradona in one historic category while matching and breaking several long-standing milestones.
Messi Overtakes Maradona for Most World Cup Assists
Messi's pinpoint cross for Cristian Romero's goal saw him move clear of Diego Maradona as the player with the most assists in FIFA World Cup history since records began in 1966. According to Opta, the assist was his ninth at the tournament, taking him one ahead of Maradona's eight and adding another remarkable achievement to his glittering international career.
Dominance Among Older Players
Per statistician MisterChip, the Argentina captain also strengthened his place in football history by becoming responsible for 47% of every World Cup goal scored by players aged 38 or older across the tournament's 96-year history. His longevity continues to separate him from virtually every other player to have featured on football's biggest stage.
Knockout Stage Legend
Messi's equaliser against Egypt was his seventh goal in World Cup knockout matches. That tally drew him level with Brazilian icon Pele on the all-time list, leaving only Kylian Mbappe, Leonidas and Ronaldo Nazario ahead of him.
First to Score in Six Consecutive Knockout Matches
The goal against Egypt also made Messi the first footballer ever to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout matches. His remarkable run stretches from Argentina's victorious 2022 campaign through to the current tournament, breaking the previous record of five shared by Leonidas, Gyorgy Sarosi and Vava.
Oldest Player to Record a Goal and Assist in a Knockout Match
At 39 years old, Messi became the oldest player in FIFA World Cup history to both score and provide an assist in the same knockout fixture. He surpassed the previous record held by Sweden's Nils Liedholm, who achieved the feat at the age of 35 during the 1958 tournament.
Unwanted Penalty Record
Although Argentina eventually celebrated victory, Messi also set an unwanted record after failing to convert from the penalty spot. The miss was his fourth penalty failure in regular World Cup play, more than any other player in the tournament's history. Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan sits second with two missed penalties.
First to Miss Two Penalties in One World Cup
Messi's latest miss also saw him become the first footballer to miss two penalties during a single World Cup edition outside penalty shootouts. His earlier miss came against Austria before another unsuccessful attempt against Egypt.
Maradona-Level Performance
The Argentine captain produced one of the tournament's finest all-round displays. Opta added that by scoring, completing at least five successful dribbles and creating five or more chances from open play, Messi became the first player to achieve those numbers at a World Cup since Diego Maradona's famous display against Belgium in 1986.
Best Scoring Start Since Gerd Muller
Messi's eighth goal of the 2026 World Cup means no player has scored more through the opening five matches of a single tournament since Germany legend Gerd Muller netted 10 goals in 1970. The remarkable scoring streak has been central to Argentina's title defence.
Extends Own Scoring Streak
The goal against Egypt also extended another record already belonging to Messi. According to FIFA, he has now scored in nine consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, further lengthening the longest scoring run ever recorded in the competition.
Equals Argentina's Oldest World Cup Scoring Record
By reaching eight goals at the 2026 World Cup, Messi equalled Guillermo Stabile's long-standing Argentina record for the most goals scored by an Argentine player in a single edition of the tournament. Stabile first achieved the feat during the inaugural World Cup in 1930, and nearly a century later, Messi has matched the historic benchmark.
Messi endured a frustrating start after missing an early penalty, but he responded in trademark fashion by providing an assist before scoring the equaliser as Argentina overturned a seemingly impossible deficit. Cristian Romero started the comeback before Messi levelled the scores, while Enzo Fernandez completed the turnaround deep into stoppage time to send the South American giants into the last eight.
