Lionel Messi continues to set World Cup records, demonstrating that his name remains among the greatest footballers even at the age of 39. He played a key role in the match where Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 in the tournament playoffs.
New Achievements in the Tournament
According to OptaJoe data, in this match, Messi achieved several significant milestones that further set him apart from many outstanding players. The Argentine forward became the first player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive playoff matches, continuing an impressive streak started during Argentina's successful campaign in Qatar in 2022.
Records in Match Series
Messi extended his record for consecutive goals and became the first player to score in nine consecutive tournament matches. Furthermore, in the 2026 tournament, he significantly advanced World Cup history in terms of assists. His assist against Egypt brought his total assists in the tournament to nine, allowing him to surpass Argentine legend Diego Maradona and become the absolute leader in this statistic since the start of record-keeping.
Statistics and Impact on Play
Messi's impact in the match against Egypt was not limited to creating scoring opportunities. His equalizer increased Messi's total goals in the tournament to 21, thereby strengthening his position in the all-time tournament top scorers list. These figures are astonishing, especially considering that Messi participated in the World Cup for the first time in 2006 and is now playing in its sixth edition.
Historical Facts of the Match
The encounter with Egypt also brought another historical moment: Messi became the oldest player to score and provide an assist in the same World Cup match. At 39 years old, the Inter Miami forward continues to challenge conventional football timelines, creating moments many expected to see long ago. However, the match also revealed one unusual statistic: Messi became the first player to miss two penalties in a single World Cup tournament, excluding penalty shootouts, after his penalty shot was saved by an Egyptian defender.
