Lionel Messi has had an eventful World Cup this year. Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia in their opening game of the tournament to end their 36-game unbeaten streak sadly. Many believed that Messi will not be able to lead his country to the knockout stages at the World Cup this year.
However, that hasn’t been the case. Messi scored a beautiful goal against Mexico to give Argentina the goal. He also assisted Enzo Fernandez after a corner routine to wrap up that win. In the game against Poland, Messi missed the penalty against former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
LIONEL MESSI PASSES DIEGO MARADONA FOR MOST WORLD CUP GOALS BY AN ARGENTINE! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/ZmbvKVcK9E
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 3, 2022
Despite the miss, the PSG superstar was one of the best players on the pitch, in terms of his playmaking and passing. It seems like he has carried that form to the knockouts as well. After scoring against Australia tonight, Messi overtook the legendary Diego Maradona for World Cup goals. The late soccer icon had 8 goals to his name when he retired from the sport.
How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?
Messi has 9 World Cup goals in his illustrious career so far. It seems like he is keen on adding to that as time passes. In this World Cup, he has scored against Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and now Australia. This year’s tournament has proven to be one of Messi’s best World Cups ever. He was able to only net once at the last World Cup in Russia against Nigeria.
However, the Argentinian forward managed to carry his nation on his back at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He scored 4 goals that year. Messi found the back of the net against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, and twice against Nigeria. Before that, his last goal in the FIFA World Cup came in 2006, when he got on the scoresheet against Serbia and Montenegro.
10—Gabriel Batistuta
9—Lionel Messi
8—Diego MaradonaMessi becomes Argentina’s second-highest scorer at the World Cup ⚽ pic.twitter.com/3ZPzVg6Wa2
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 3, 2022
Messi is now Argentina’s second-most goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup. Many would have expected the soccer icon to be in first place, but that belongs to someone else. Former Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta sits at the top with 10 goals scored across World Cup tournaments. Messi is just one goal behind. Will the soccer superstar be able to become the highest goal scorer for Argentina at this year’s World Cup?
