Messi Breaks His Own Record Again: 20th World Cup Goal Puts Him Two Clear of Mbappé
Lionel Messi's 29th-minute strike against Cape Verde extended his all-time World Cup scoring record to 20 goals and reclaimed top spot in the 2026 Golden Boot race, with his eighth straight World Cup match on the scoresheet.
A Record That Keeps Growing
Messi's opener in Argentina's dramatic 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde on July 3 was his 20th career World Cup goal, moving him two clear of Kylian Mbappé on the all-time list. It came in Messi's 30th men's World Cup appearance, and the manner of it was vintage: he controlled a Lisandro Martínez pass into the box with the outside of his left boot before flicking it past goalkeeper Vozinha in one movement.
The goal also stretched Messi's streak of scoring in consecutive World Cup matches to eight — the longest such run in tournament history — and made him the first player ever to score in five straight World Cup knockout-stage appearances, a mark that dates back to when FIFA's records begin in the 1960s.
Golden Boot Race — Where It Stands After Day 23
Messi's goal also put him back in front for this tournament's Golden Boot, the award recognizing 2026's top scorer — an honor that has eluded him in five previous World Cups, including a runner-up finish in 2022 behind Mbappé. The race remains tight entering the Round of 16:
| Player | Team | Goals (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 7 |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | 6 |
| Harry Kane | England | 5 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 5 |
Mbappé and Messi had traded the tournament lead back and forth for days before Messi's goal against Cape Verde put him a clear goal in front. Kane joined Haaland on five after scoring twice in England's 2-1 win over DR Congo, keeping both firmly in the conversation heading into the knockout rounds, where goals tend to come at a premium.
What's Next for Messi and Argentina
Argentina now face Egypt in the Round of 16 on July 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Messi has never won a World Cup Golden Boot despite lifting the trophy itself in 2022, finishing that tournament with seven goals — one behind Mbappé. At 39 goal involvements and counting across his career at the tournament, this is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance, adding extra weight to every game he plays from here.
The path Argentina takes from here matters for the Golden Boot race too. If Messi and Mbappé's teams both keep winning, the two greatest players of their generation are on course to meet again in the knockout rounds before the final, much as they did in Qatar in 2022 — except this time on opposite paths through the bracket rather than in the showpiece match itself. Every additional appearance also gives Messi more chances to widen his career scoring record further, a mark that previously belonged to Miroslav Klose (16 goals) until Messi surpassed it earlier in the tournament.
The Chasing Pack
Behind the top four, a handful of other forwards remain within range of a late surge. Ousmane Dembélé's first-half hat-trick against Norway earlier in the group stage put him among the tournament's most efficient finishers, while Vinícius Júnior has been a consistent outlet for Brazil going into their Round of 16 meeting with Norway. With the tournament now down to 16 teams, however, every remaining match is a knockout game — meaning any of the current leaders could suddenly be eliminated, freezing their goal tally while their rivals keep playing. That single dynamic is likely to decide the Golden Boot as much as pure finishing ability over the next two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Messi has 20 career World Cup goals after his strike against Cape Verde on July 3, 2026 — two more than Kylian Mbappé's 18, which is the current second-best all-time.
As of July 3, Messi leads with 7 goals this tournament, ahead of Mbappé (6), and Harry Kane and Erling Haaland (5 each).
No — his best finish was runner-up in 2022 with seven goals, one behind Mbappé's eight, despite winning the tournament with Argentina that year.