As the saying goes, “same old story, nothing new.” Lionel Messi has scored against Cape Verde, rewriting the history books with a flurry of new World Cup records.
The moment the opening whistle blew, Messi became the first player in football history to reach 30 appearances in the World Cup.
By netting the opening goal in the 29th minute, the Argentine icon became the first player ever to score in eight consecutive World Cup matches, tallying 12 goals during this streak. This incredible run began against Australia in 2022, continued through games against the Netherlands, Croatia, and France, and extended into the 2026 edition against Algeria, Austria, Jordan, and finally Cape Verde.
Furthermore, Messi is now the first player to score 7 goals in two different editions of the World Cup.
Additionally, the Pulga has become the first player in World Cup history to score in every single round of the tournament: from the group stage, to the Round of 32, the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and the final itself.
Messi also stands alone as the first player to find the back of the net in five consecutive World Cup knockout stage matches.
In total, Messi’s World Cup goal tally has reached an astonishing 20 goals, cementing his place as the tournament’s all-time top scorer, currently sitting two goals ahead of French superstar Kylian Mbappé.
