Guinness World Records (GWR) has officially recognized four historic milestones achieved by Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, following his outstanding performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he inspired the defending champions to a 2-0 group-stage victory over Austria on Monday.
Despite missing an early penalty, Messi spearheaded Argentina’s attack and scored twice to secure the win, further strengthening his legacy as one of football’s greatest players.
In a statement released after the match, Guinness World Records hailed the Argentine icon for rewriting the history books.
“We are witnessing history,” GWR said in its assessment of Messi’s latest achievements.
The four records officially confirmed by GWR are:
Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a player: 18
Most FIFA World Cup matches played by an individual: 28
Most FIFA World Cup matches won by a player: 18
Most minutes played in FIFA World Cup history: 2,489
Messi’s brace against Austria saw him surpass former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the World Cup scoring record with 16 goals.
At 38, Messi is featuring in his sixth World Cup since making his tournament debut in 2006. His remarkable longevity and sustained excellence continue to redefine standards on football’s biggest stage as Argentina seek to retain the title they won in Qatar four years ago.
