Lionel Messi Makes History as Second Player to Score in Five World Cups

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lionel Messi etched his name in football history once again by becoming the second player ever to score in five World Cups, giving Argentina an early 1-0 advantage against Algeria on Tuesday night.

In what marked his record sixth World Cup appearance, the renowned eight-time Ballon d’Or winner found a gap in the Algerian defense and effortlessly scored past goalkeeper Luca Zidane, securing his 14th goal in World Cup competitions. The Argentine fans, clad in blue and white, erupted in cheers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Just moments prior, Messi had a goal ruled out for offside, but he quickly made amends with his remarkable strike. He now joins Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to have scored in five separate World Cups. Ronaldo first achieved this feat in 2022 and is set to make his sixth World Cup appearance on Wednesday.

Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history, with 16, surpassing Brazil's Ronaldo by one. Messi's latest achievement moves him into a tie for third place on the all-time list alongside Kylian Mbappé, who netted two goals in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal earlier on Tuesday.

This milestone further cements Messi's legacy in the sport as one of the all-time greats.