Few players have had a World Cup journey as long and special as Lionel Messi.
Messi played in six FIFA World Cups. He made his debut as a teenager in Germany in 2006. Twenty years later, he finished his World Cup journey as an experienced Argentina captain.
During those six tournaments, Messi scored early goals, long-range shots, free-kicks, penalties and important knockout-stage goals. He also waited many years to win the biggest prize.
By the time Messi finished his sixth and final World Cup in 2026, he had scored 21 FIFA World Cup goals in 34 appearances. He also became the first player to score at five different stages of one World Cup. He did this in Qatar 2022 by scoring in the group stage, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final.
But how did Messi score all 21 of those goals?
Here is a complete look at every Lionel Messi World Cup goal, from his first goal against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 to his 21st goal against Egypt in 2026.
Lionel Messi FIFA World Cup goals by edition
| FIFA World Cup | Appearances | Goals | Argentina’s finish |
| Germany 2006 | 3 | 1 | Quarter-finals |
| South Africa 2010 | 5 | 0 | Quarter-finals |
| Brazil 2014 | 7 | 4 | Runners-up |
| Russia 2018 | 4 | 1 | Round of 16 |
| Qatar 2022 | 7 | 7 | Champions |
| 2026 | 8 | 8 | Runners-up |
| Total | 34 | 21 | 1 World Cup title |
Messi scored only once in his first World Cup. He did not score in 2010. He then scored four goals in Brazil, one in Russia, seven in Qatar and eight in 2026.
FIFA lists Messi as the tournament’s all-time appearance leader with 34 matches.
Every one of Lionel Messi World Cup goals
1. Serbia and Montenegro – 2006
Minute: 88′
Score: Argentina 6-0 Serbia and Montenegro
Assist: Carlos Tevez
Messi scored his first World Cup goal just days before his 19th birthday.
Argentina already had the game under control when Messi came on as a substitute. In the 88th minute, Carlos Tevez passed the ball to him.
Messi stayed calm and finished from close range.
It was not a spectacular goal, but it was a historic moment. Messi had scored on football’s biggest stage.
Messi did not score in the 2010 World Cup. He came to Brazil with big expectations and scored four goals.
Three of those goals came in the group stage.
2. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2014
Minute: 64′
Score: Argentina 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Assist: Gonzalo Higuaín
Eight years after his first World Cup goal, Messi produced another special moment.
Gonzalo Higuain passed the ball to Messi. Messi moved past two Bosnia defenders before taking a left-footed shot.
The ball hit the post before going into the net.
It was the type of goal that fans expected from Argentina’s No. 10.
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3. Iran – 2014
Minute: 90′
Score: Argentina 1-0 Iran
Assist: None
Iran had defended very well and looked ready to stop Argentina.
Then Messi changed the game.
He received the ball near the edge of the penalty area. He moved onto his left foot and curled the ball into the far corner.
The shot gave Argentina a late 1-0 win.
It was a typical Lionel Messi long-range goal. He found the corner with great accuracy.
4. Nigeria – 2014
Minute: 2′
Score: Argentina 3-2 Nigeria
Assist: No official assist
Messi needed only two minutes to score against Nigeria.
Ángel Di María’s shot hit the post. Messi reacted quickly and finished from inside the box.
The goal gave Argentina an early lead.
It also continued Messi’s strong start to the tournament.
5. Nigeria – 2014
Minute: 45′
Score: Argentina 3-2 Nigeria
Assist: None
Messi scored again just before half-time.
Argentina won a free-kick in a dangerous position. Messi took the kick himself.
His left-footed shot went past the Nigerian goalkeeper and into the net.
It was his second goal of the game and his fourth goal of the tournament.
6. Nigeria – 2018
Minute: 14′
Score: Argentina 2-1 Nigeria
Assist: Ever Banega
Four years later, Messi scored against Nigeria again.
Ever Banega sent a long pass towards Messi. Messi controlled the ball and took it into the penalty area.
He then finished past the goalkeeper.
The goal showed three of Messi’s biggest strengths: first touch, speed and calm finishing.
It also came in an important game because Argentina needed a result to move out of the group.
Qatar changed Messi’s World Cup story forever.
He entered the tournament as a 35-year-old Argentina captain. The World Cup was still the biggest trophy missing from his career.
He left Qatar with seven goals, the Golden Ball and the World Cup trophy.
7. Saudi Arabia – 2022
Minute: 10′
Score: Saudi Arabia 2-1 Argentina
Assist: None — penalty
Messi started his Qatar campaign with a penalty.
Leandro Paredes was fouled inside the box. Messi took the penalty and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Argentina later lost the match 2-1.
However, this goal started Messi’s impressive scoring run in Qatar.
8. Mexico – 2022
Minute: 64′
Score: Argentina 2-0 Mexico
Assist: Ángel Di María
Argentina needed a response after losing to Saudi Arabia.
Mexico defended deep, but Ángel Di María found Messi outside the penalty area.
Messi took the shot quickly.
His low left-footed effort went through a group of players and found the bottom corner.
Argentina finally had their breakthrough.
9. Australia – 2022
Minute: 35′
Score: Argentina 2-1 Australia
Assist: Nicolás Otamendi
Messi scored his first World Cup knockout-stage goal against Australia.
Argentina moved the ball into the penalty area before Messi received it in a crowded area.
Messi created some space and fired a low left-footed shot through the Australian defenders.
The goalkeeper could not stop it.
This was also the start of Messi’s long run of scoring in consecutive World Cup appearances. FIFA records that run as a tournament record.
10. Netherlands – 2022
Minute: 73′
Score: Argentina 2-2 Netherlands after extra time
Assist: None — penalty
Messi played an important role in Argentina’s first goal. He then scored one himself.
Nahuel Molina went down inside the penalty area after a challenge from Denzel Dumfries.
The referee awarded Argentina a penalty.
Messi stepped up and calmly sent the ball past Andries Noppert.
The goal gave Argentina a 2-0 lead at the time. The Netherlands later came back, but Argentina won the match on penalties.
11. Croatia – 2022
Minute: 34′
Score: Argentina 3-0 Croatia
Assist: None — penalty
Messi scored another penalty in the semi-final.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic brought down Julian Alvarez inside the box.
Messi took the penalty.
He sent the ball into the corner and helped Argentina reach another World Cup final.
The goal also took Messi past Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s leading World Cup scorer.
12. France – 2022
Minute: 23′
Score: Argentina 3-3 France, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties
Assist: None — penalty
Messi’s World Cup journey reached its biggest moment at Lusail Stadium.
Ángel Di María was brought down inside the French penalty area by Ousmane Dembélé.
Messi took the penalty.
He sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way and gave Argentina a 1-0 lead.
For Messi, the goal was another important step towards the World Cup trophy he had wanted for so long.
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13. France – 2022
Minute: 108′
Score: Argentina 3-3 France, Argentina won 4-2 on penalties
Assist: None
Then came another unforgettable moment.
Lautaro Martínez took a shot, but Hugo Lloris saved it. The ball then fell inside the French penalty area.
Messi reacted first.
He reached the loose ball and put it into the net.
Argentina moved ahead again in extra time.
France equalised again through Kylian Mbappé, but Argentina eventually won the penalty shootout.
Messi had finally become a FIFA World Cup champion.
FIFA also gave him the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Messi returned for his sixth World Cup in 2026.
At 38, he became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick after his performance against Algeria. FIFA also confirmed that the Algeria hat-trick came in Messi’s 200th international appearance.
He finished the tournament with eight goals, his highest total in one World Cup.
14. Algeria – 2026
Minute: 17′
Score: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Assist: Rodrigo De Paul
Lionel Messi started Argentina’s 2026 campaign with a beautiful finish.
Rodrigo De Paul passed the ball to him. Messi turned and moved towards the box.
He then created space for his left foot and curled the ball past the Algerian goalkeeper.
It was a perfect start to his sixth World Cup.
15. Algeria – 2026
Minute: 60′
Score: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Assist: None
Lionel Messi scored again after half-time.
Alexis Mac Allister took a shot from distance, but the Algerian goalkeeper could not hold it.
Messi reacted quickly.
He reached the rebound and put the ball into the net.
He now had two goals in the game and was close to completing a World Cup hat-trick.
16. Algeria – 2026
Minute: 76′
Score: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Assist: Nicolás González
Messi completed his first FIFA World Cup hat-trick in the second half.
Substitute Nicolás González passed the ball to him.
Messi then finished into the corner.
The goal took Messi to 16 World Cup goals, level with Miroslav Klose’s previous record.
He soon moved past that mark.
17. Austria – 2026
Minute: 38′
Score: Argentina 2-0 Austria
Assist: Facundo Medina
Messi entered the Austria game knowing that one more goal would take him past Klose.
He started the move around halfway and carried the ball towards the penalty area.
Facundo Medina later found Messi after Thiago Almada made a clever dummy.
Messi swept the ball into the net.
The goal made him the outright leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history at that moment.
Mbappé later scored more goals during the tournament and moved ahead of him.
18. Austria – 2026
Minute: 90+5′
Score: Argentina 2-0 Austria
Assist: None
Messi wanted more.
Late in the match, Alexander Schlager saved Julián Álvarez’s shot.
The loose ball fell to Messi.
He collected it and fired the ball past two Austrian defenders.
Messi finished the game with two goals and moved his World Cup total to 18.
19. Jordan – 2026
Minute: 80′
Score: Jordan 1-3 Argentina
Assist: None — free-kick
Messi started the Jordan game on the bench. It was the first time he had not started a World Cup game in two decades.
But he still found a way to make an impact.
With around ten minutes left, Messi took a free-kick.
He sent a low shot towards the goalkeeper’s left and found the net.
It was Messi’s second World Cup free-kick goal and took his total to 19.
It also continued his scoring run in consecutive World Cup appearances.
20. Cabo Verde – 2026
Minute: 29′
Score: Argentina 3-2 Cabo Verde
Assist: Lisandro Martínez
Messi scored his 20th World Cup goal in the first knockout round.
Lisandro Martínez played the ball towards him.
Messi controlled it and then finished the chance.
The goal made history.
Messi became the first player to score 20 FIFA World Cup goals.
21. Egypt – 2026
Minute: 84′
Score: Argentina 3-2 Egypt
Assist: Gonzalo Montiel
Messi’s 21st and final World Cup goal came against Egypt in the Round of 16.
Argentina were behind 2-1 before they fought back.
Inside the penalty area, Gonzalo Montiel knocked the ball down.
Messi reacted quickly and finished the chance.
It was his 21st FIFA World Cup goal. You can watch all his FIFA WC goals HERE.
At that point, Messi had moved past Klose and stood alone at the top of the World Cup scoring list.
Mbappé later moved ahead of him during the 2026 tournament and finished with 22 World Cup goals.
Lionel Messi World Cup goals: Complete breakdown
Here’s a complete breakdown of Messi’s goals in the WC.
| # | Year | Opponent | Minute | Goal type/description | Assist |
| 1 | 2006 | Serbia & Montenegro | 88′ | Close-range finish | Carlos Tevez |
| 2 | 2014 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 64′ | Dribbled past defenders and finished off the post |
Gonzalo Higuain
|
| 3 | 2014 | Iran | 90′ | Left-footed curler from outside the box | None |
| 4 | 2014 | Nigeria | 2′ | Finished after Di María’s shot hit the post | No official assist |
| 5 | 2014 | Nigeria | 45′ | Direct free-kick | None |
| 6 | 2018 | Nigeria | 14′ | Controlled Banega’s long pass and finished | Ever Banega |
| 7 | 2022 | Saudi Arabia | 10′ | Penalty | None |
| 8 | 2022 | Mexico | 64′ | Low left-footed shot from outside the box | Ángel Di María |
| 9 | 2022 | Australia | 35′ | Low finish through defenders |
Nicolás Otamendi
|
| 10 | 2022 | Netherlands | 73′ | Penalty | None |
| 11 | 2022 | Croatia | 34′ | Penalty | None |
| 12 | 2022 | France | 23′ | Penalty | None |
| 13 | 2022 | France | 108′ | Close-range rebound | None |
| 14 | 2026 | Algeria | 17′ | Curling left-foot finish | Rodrigo De Paul |
| 15 | 2026 | Algeria | 60′ | Rebound after goalkeeper save | None |
| 16 | 2026 | Algeria | 76′ | Left-foot finish into corner |
Nicolás González
|
| 17 | 2026 | Austria | 38′ | Swept home after Argentina move |
Facundo Medina
|
| 18 | 2026 | Austria | 90+5′ | Rebound finish | None |
| 19 | 2026 | Jordan | 80′ | Low free-kick | None |
| 20 | 2026 | Cabo Verde | 29′ | Controlled pass and finished |
Lisandro Martínez
|
| 21 | 2026 | Egypt | 84′ | Finished Montiel knockdown | Gonzalo Montiel |
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Messi is the only player to score at every stage of a World Cup
Qatar 2022 gave Messi another unique record.
He scored in every stage of the tournament:
- Group stage – Saudi Arabia and Mexico
- Round of 16 – Australia
- Quarter-final – Netherlands
- Semi-final – Croatia
- Final – France
This made Messi the only player in FIFA World Cup history to score in all five stages during one World Cup.
It was also the tournament where he finally won the biggest trophy of his career.
Argentina beat France on penalties after the final ended 3-3. Messi scored twice in the match.
He also won the Golden Ball.
Messi became the only player to win the Golden Ball twice. He had also won the award in 2014.
A World Cup career across three decades
Messi’s six World Cups show how long his career lasted.
He scored his first World Cup goal as a teenager in 2006.
Messi scored in his 20s during the 2014 and 2018 tournaments.
He then scored seven goals at age 35 in Qatar and eight more at age 38 in 2026.
FIFA records Messi as the only player to score at a World Cup as a teenager, in his 20s, and in his 30s.
He also became the first player to provide assists in six different World Cup editions. This showed that his impact was not only about scoring goals.
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Where Lionel Messi stands on the all-time World Cup scoring list
Messi finished his World Cup career with 21 goals.
During the 2026 tournament, he briefly became the outright leading scorer in World Cup history after passing Miroslav Klose’s 16-goal mark.
However, Kylian Mbappé later moved ahead of him.
Mbappé finished the 2026 World Cup with 22 goals, leaving Messi second on the all-time list.
Messi played in six World Cups and 34 matches, while Mbappé reached 22 goals across three tournaments and 22 appearances.
Messi also holds the appearance record and the victories record. He also holds the record for scoring in nine consecutive World Cup appearances.
The Argentinian finished with 16 World Cup Player of the Match awards.
He is also the only player to win the Golden Ball twice.
From teenage debut to World Cup champion: Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi scored his 21 World Cup goals across 20 years.
His first came in 2006, when he was still a teenager trying to make his mark.
His World Cup journey also included difficult moments, including Argentina’s 2014 final loss to Germany.
Then came the defining moment in Qatar.
Messi finally won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022.
His World Cup career ended with 21 goals, 34 appearances, one World Cup title, two Golden Balls and many memorable moments.
Mbappé now sits ahead of him on the scoring list with 22 goals.
Still, Messi’s six-tournament journey covers two decades and includes some of the biggest moments of his career.
From his close-range finish against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 to his final goal against Egypt in 2026, each of the 21 Lionel Messi World Cup goals tells another part of his remarkable story on football’s biggest stage.
What is your favourite Lionel Messi goal in FIFA World Cup history? Let us know in the comments.
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