Messi breaks World Cup assist record, equals Müller's scoring feat

Lionel Messi continues to shatter World Cup records, adding another significant milestone to his illustrious career. Beyond being the tournament's top scorer with 21 goals, Messi became the all-time leading assist provider on July 7, 2026. He achieved this by assisting Argentina's goal in their comeback victory against Egypt during the Round of 16, surpassing Diego Maradona's previous record of 8 assists.

Data from sports analytics platforms like Sofascore and StatMuse confirm Messi's new record. This achievement places him ahead of the 1986 World Cup champion, Maradona, in terms of assists. With this latest contribution, Messi has now been directly involved in 30 goals for Argentina in World Cup history, combining his goals and assists.

Messi's scoring prowess also remains unbroken in the 2026 tournament. According to Opta, he has equaled German striker Gerd Müller's 1970 record, scoring eight goals in his first five matches of a single World Cup edition. This makes Messi Argentina's top scorer in a single World Cup tournament, matching Guillermo Stábile's record from 1930.

Furthermore, FIFA and Opta highlighted Messi's remarkable consistency. Opta reported that he has been involved in at least one goal, either by scoring or assisting, in eleven consecutive matches. FIFA also noted that between the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, Messi has scored in nine consecutive games, underscoring his sustained impact on the global stage.