Lionel Messi Becomes First Player To Score 7 Goals In Multiple FIFA World Cup Editions

Last Updated:July 04, 2026, 04:32 IST

A total of six players have scored at least five goals in multiple FIFA World Cup editions, but Messi is the only one to have scored seven goals in more than one edition.

Lionel Messi entered his name in the history books on Friday (Saturday IST) by becoming the first player to score seven goals in multiple FIFA World Cup editions. The 39-year-old, who scored seven goals in seven matches for Argentina during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, netted his seventh goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the 29th minute of Argentina’s Round of 32 match against Cape Verde in Miami.

A total of six players have scored at least five goals in multiple FIFA World Cup editions, but Messi is the only one to have scored seven goals in more than one edition.

Messi is followed by Kylian Mbappé on the list of players with the most goals across multiple FIFA World Cup editions. Mbappé has scored at least six goals in two World Cups, having netted eight times for France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and six goals in his first four matches of the 2026 edition.

Messi’s goal against Cape Verde also helped him become the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score 20 goals.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored one goal each at the 2006 and 2018 FIFA World Cups and four goals in the 2014 edition. He has now scored seven goals each at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, taking his overall World Cup tally to 20 goals.

About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football, and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelli...Read More

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