Argentinian Lionel Messi became the highest assist giver at the FIFA World Cups after setting up a goal against Cape Verde in Kansas on Friday.
In extra time, Messi floated in a corner headed in by Cristian Romero to give Argentina a 3-2 lead in a thrilling match.
This was Messi’s ninth assist at the World Cup, taking him past compatriot Diego Maradona’s eight.
Messi recorded his first assist in 2006, against Serbia and Montenegro, when his cutback was turned in by Hernan Crespo.
In 2010, he scored Carlos Tevez’s goal against Mexico. He added another assist in 2014, after setting up Angel di Maria’s strike against Switzerland.
Messi collected two assists in 2018 – both against France in the round of 16, with Gabriel Mercado and Di Maria completing the offering.
The Argentina legend did even better in 2022, assisting Julian Alvarez (against Croatia in the semi-final), Nahuel Molina (against the Netherlands in the quarter-final) and Enzo Fernandez (against Mexico in the group stage).
Most assists at the World Cup (since 1966)
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9 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
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8 – Diego Maradona (Argentina).
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7 – Pierre Littbarski (Germany), Grzegorz Lato (Poland).
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6 – David Beckham (England), Pelé (Brazil), Thomas Häßler (Germany), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Thomas Müller (Germany), Uwe Seeler (Germany).
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5 – Zico (Brazil), Antoine Griezmann (France), Ivan Perisic (Croatia), Gerd Müller (Germany), Michael Ballack (Germany), Juan Sebastián Verón (Argentina), Juan Cuadrado (Colombia), Robert Gadocha (Poland).
STATISTICS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR WORLD CUPS SINCE 1966
Published on July 4, 2026
