He had missed a penalty kick earlier in the game.
German Miroslav Klose had held the record with 16 goals which he set in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The record goal for a 1-0 lead came in the 38th minute and two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid concerns for an ailing father back at home. In the lead-up to the goal Messi made that signature run of his just inside the box to slot home into the bottom corner.
In his second goal in the 95th minute, Messi picked the ball up wide right, came inside and sprayed it to Julian Alvarez, who made a mess of the finish. But Messi wasn’t finished; he finished.
So that’s five goals in two games for Messi at this World Cup.
He is playing in his sixth World Cup, and Monday was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.
Messi also became just the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive games after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany which won the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over, ironically, Messi and Argentina.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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