Lionel Messi becomes all-time World Cup goalscorer at 39, completing a decade-long redemption arc

Lionel Messi told the world he was done with Argentina in 2016. A decade later, the 39-year-old just became the greatest World Cup goalscorer in history, men’s or women’s.

On June 22, 2026, Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria, pushing his career World Cup tally to 18 goals. That surpassed Miroslav Klose’s men’s record of 16 and Marta’s overall record of 17, placing Messi alone atop a list that spans the entire history of the tournament.

From retirement to record books

After losing the 2016 Copa America final to Chile on penalties, his fourth major final defeat with the national team, Messi declared flatly: “For me, the national team is over.”

He reversed that decision weeks later. Messi captained Argentina to the 2021 Copa America title, ending a 28-year trophy drought for the country. Then came the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he led Argentina to the championship. Now, at an age when most players have long since retired, he’s rewriting records that seemed untouchable.

The 2026 tournament started with a statement. Messi opened with a hat-trick against Algeria, instantly placing Argentina at the top of Group J. His two goals against Austria made him one of only three players to score in six consecutive men’s World Cup matches.

What makes this different

Klose’s record of 16 goals was set across four World Cups spanning 2002 to 2014. Messi went past that, and then past Marta’s overall record of 17. Messi now holds the scoring record across every World Cup ever played, regardless of gender. At 39 years old.

What this means for investors watching the intersection of sport and crypto

Messi’s massive global profile has historically intersected with the digital asset world. He previously appeared in promotions for fan tokens and NFT-adjacent projects during the last crypto cycle. Yet his current World Cup heroics have not been accompanied by any notable crypto or blockchain-related initiatives.

Sports-related tokens and NFT platforms have historically seen volume spikes during major international tournaments. The 2022 World Cup coincided with significant activity in fan token markets, particularly around teams that advanced deep into the bracket.

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