Messi inspired Argentina to their first world title in 36 years in 2022, scoring seven goals and providing three assists across seven appearances.
He also created 21 scoring opportunities, produced seven big chances and completed 15 successful dribbles on his way to winning the Golden Ball.
Six matches into the 2026 tournament, the similarities are remarkable.
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Messi has already scored eight goals and supplied two assists, matching his total of 10 direct goal contributions from Qatar with one game fewer.
The Argentina captain has created 22 opportunities, produced seven big chances and completed 13 successful dribbles. His overall Sofascore rating across the tournament stands at an extraordinary 9.15. Sofascore
Messi began the competition with a hat-trick against Algeria before striking twice against Austria. Further goals against Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt carried Argentina into the quarter-finals.
His scoring run ended against Switzerland, but his influence remained.
Messi delivered the corner from which Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring, created six opportunities and completed 60 of his 69 passes during Argentina’s dramatic 3-1 extra-time victory.
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez eventually finished the job, sending the defending champions into a semi-final against England.
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Qatar was supposed to be Messi’s crowning chapter. He finally lifted the trophy that had eluded him and seemingly completed football.
Yet four years later, he is threatening to produce something even more extraordinary.
Messi has already surpassed his 2022 goal tally and could still have two matches remaining. Victory over England would take Argentina into another final and leave them one win away from becoming the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup.
The numbers are almost identical. Messi’s pursuit of history continues.
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi’s 2022 and 2026 World Cup campaigns look almost identical 😳
📊 2022 World Cup:
👕 7 games
⚽️ 7 goals
🎯 3 assists
😮 21 chances created
😳 7 big chances created
💨 15 successful dribbles📊 2026 World Cup:
👕 6 games
⚽️ 8 goals
🎯 2 assists
😮 21 chances… pic.twitter.com/2QifVrunaI— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) July 12, 2026
Photo: REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian
