Lionel Messi extended his FIFA World Cup goals record to 21 on Tuesday as the Argentina star scored against Egypt to tie the game at 2-2 in the second half.
Messi’s goal proved crucial as Argentina stormed back to defeat Egypt 3-2 in their Round of 16 clash after trailing 2-0 in the second half. Argentina scored three goals in just 13 minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Messi also took over sole possession of the top spot in the Golden Boot race with his eighth goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He now sits ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who both have seven goals at the tournament so far. England’s Harry Kane also remains in the race with six goals ahead of the quarter-finals.
Messi missed a chance in the first half to tie the Round of 16 clash at 1-1, but was denied on a penalty for the second time at this World Cup.
He tried to beat Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir with a kick low and right but had it punched away just prior to the first-half hydration break. The 39-year-old midfielder missed the net entirely on a penalty against Austria in the group round.
Messi has been otherwise unstoppable this summer, with the 39-year-old midfielder scoring in each of Argentina’s five games so far.
He opened with a hat trick against Algeria in the team’s first group-round game, burned Austria for two goals and then entered as a substitute to score on Jordan. In the Round of 32, he scored the opening goal against Cabo Verde in a difficult 3-2 extra time victory.
With his goal Tuesday, Messi is two goals clear of Mbappe for the all-time World Cup goals record.
He assisted on Argentina’s first goal to become the all-time World Cup leader in assists with nine, despite entering Tuesday’s game with none at the 2026 tournament.
