World Cup 2026: The records Lionel Messi is chasing

At 39 years old, Lionel Messi is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup, seeing it as an opportunity to etch further legendary status onto an already mythical career. The recent triumph in Qatar placed him in an elite club, but a second consecutive title would see Argentina join the ranks of Brazil's 1958 and 1962 teams as the last to retain the World Cup.

Beyond team success, Messi is chasing personal milestones that appear almost untouchable. He needs just four goals to overtake Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals, a feat that would make him the tournament's all-time leading scorer. Additionally, he has the potential to become the first footballer to lift the coveted trophy twice while wearing the captain's armband.

Another, rarer record is within reach: if Messi scores in all three group stage matches, he will surpass the six consecutive goal-scoring games set by Just Fontaine and Jairzinho, standing alone at the top of that particular list. Numbers have always been his allies, and the question remains whether they will become history by the end of his journey. For Messi, each World Cup is more than just a tournament; it's another chance to prove that legends do not age, they simply continue to make history.