Across six World Cups, Lionel Messi has produced moments ranging from teenage promise to career-defining triumph. Here is how his most significant tournament performances stack up heading into the 2026 final.
2022: The Crowning Achievement
Messi’s 2022 campaign in Qatar remains the high point of his World Cup career. He won the Golden Ball as Argentina lifted the trophy, finally completing the one achievement that had eluded him, capped by his performance in the final against France.
2026: A Historic Sixth World Cup
At 39, Messi delivered a hat-trick against Algeria in the opening match, becoming the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick. He added two goals against Austria and one against Jordan to finish the group stage with six goals, then continued scoring into the knockout rounds, finishing level with Kylian Mbappé for the Golden Boot lead with eight goals before providing two assists in the semifinal win over England.
2014: Golden Ball Without the Trophy
Messi won the World Cup’s Golden Ball in 2014 despite Argentina losing the final to Germany, becoming the first player to win the award twice after later repeating the feat in 2022. His performances throughout that tournament, including a stunning solo goal against Iran, kept Argentina alive when the team otherwise struggled offensively.
2006: The Beginning
Messi made his World Cup debut in 2006 at 18 years and 358 days old, entering as a substitute in a 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro and scoring his first World Cup goal in that match, becoming the youngest player to score for Argentina at a World Cup.
A Career of Continuous Growth
From a promising teenager to the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, Messi’s World Cup story has been defined by steady accumulation rather than a single peak, a pattern that continued into his sixth and likely final tournament in 2026.