Messi equals 64-year-old record and becomes fourth player to score in five consecutive World Cup knockout matches

Lionel Messi broke another record on Friday when he scored for Argentina against Cape Verde in their Round of 32 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami.

This was the fifth consecutive knockout match in which Messi scored for Argentina. His streak started with Argentina’s round of 16 match against Australia at the previous World Cup, where Messi scored one goal.

He followed it up with a penalty against the Netherlands and Croatia in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively. He ended his tournament with two goals against France in the final.

The 39-year-old equaled the feat last achieved in 1962 by Brazil’s Vava. Leonidas (Brazil: 1934-38) and Gyorgy Sarosi (Hungary: 1934-38) are the only others who can boast this record.

Messi also extended his record by scoring in his eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup matches.

The former Barcelona star has now scored seven times in this World Cup and leads the Golden Boot standings, ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Published on July 4, 2026