Guinness World Records has officially recognized four historic milestones achieved by Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, during his stellar performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he led the defending champions to a 2-0 group-stage victory over Austria on Monday.
Despite an early penalty miss, Messi was at the heart of Argentina’s attack, scoring twice to secure the win and further cement his status as the greatest to play the game.
Following the match, Guinness World Records (GWR) issued a statement on Monday celebrating the Argentine star for breaking multiple all-time records.
“We are witnessing history,” GWR stated in their official assessment of Messi’s latest achievements.
The four records officially confirmed by GWR are:
Most FIFA World Cup finals goals by a football (soccer) player: 18
Most FIFA World Cup matches played by an individual: 28
Most matches won by a player at the FIFA World Cup: 18, and
Most minutes played in the FIFA World Cup: 2,489
Messi’s brace in the fixture allowed him to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals.
The 38-year-old, now competing in his sixth World Cup since his 2006 tournament debut, continues to redefine longevity and dominance on football’s biggest stage.
