Messi Scores 20th World Cup Goal, Reaches Seven in 2026 Tournament in Scaloni's 100th Argentina Match

Lionel Messi has once again etched his name in the history books of the FIFA World Cup. On July 3, 2026, the Argentine captain opened the scoring in the Round of 16 match against Cabo Verde at the Miami Stadium, bringing his total World Cup goal count to 20.

This significant goal also marked Messi's seventh strike in the 2026 World Cup tournament, extending his lead in the race for the Golden Boot. He now has one more goal than his closest competitor, Kylian Mbappé, who has six. The assist for the goal came from Lisandro Martínez, further solidifying Messi's status as the tournament's all-time leading scorer.

The match was also a special occasion for Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, as it marked his 100th game at the helm of the Albiceleste. Scaloni began his tenure on September 7, 2018, with a 3-0 victory against Guatemala in Los Angeles. His leadership has seen Argentina achieve significant success, including the 2022 World Cup title.

Messi's latest goal added to his remarkable World Cup records. He became the first player to score seven or more goals in two separate World Cup editions, having previously netted seven goals in Qatar 2022 and now seven in the 2026 tournament. Furthermore, with his goal against Cabo Verde, Messi has now scored in every phase of a World Cup, including the group stage, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final. This latest addition is notable as the Round of 16 was an expanded format in the 2026 World Cup, a stage where he had not previously scored.