Lionel Messi Breaks All-Time Record Of Most Goal Contributions In FIFA World Cup Knockouts

Published 16 July 2026 · sports

Lionel Messi Breaks All-Time Record Of Most Goal Contributions In FIFA World Cup Knockouts Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 06:00 IST Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi Breaks All-Time Record Of Most Goal Contributions In FIFA World Cup Knockouts Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 06:00 IST Lionel Messi has 17 goal contributions (7 goals, 10 assists) to his name in 16 FIFA World Cup knockout matches for Argentina across six editions. Lionel Messi has 17 goal contributions to his name in 16 FIFA World Cup knockout matches. (Picture Credit: AFP) Lionel Messi now tops the list of players with the most goal contributions in FIFA World Cup knockout matches. The 39-year-old provided two assists for his Argentina teammates in the second semifinal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 against England in Atlanta on Wednesday (July 15). The two assists by Messi in the second half of the fixture, which Argentina won 2-1, took his tally to 17 goal contributions in 16 FIFA World Cup knockout matches for Argentina across six editions. In FIFA World Cup knockout matches, Messi has scored seven goals and provided 10 assists. Lionel Messi’s performance in knockout matches of FIFA World Cup for Argentina EDITION MATCH TYPE AGAINST GOAL(S) ASSIST(S) VENUE DATE 2006 Round of 16 Mexico 0 0 Zentralstadion, Leipzig June 24, 2006 2010 Round of 16 Mexico 0 1 Soccer City, Johannesburg June 27, 2010 Quarterfinal Germany 0 0 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town July 3, 2010 2014 Round of 16 Switzerland 0 1 Arena Corinthians, São Paulo July 1, 2014 Quarterfinal Belgium 0 0 Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília July 5, 2014 Semifinal Netherlands 0 0 Arena Corinthians, São Paulo July 9, 2014 Final Germany 0 0 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro July 13, 2014 2018 Round of 16 France 0 2 Kazan Arena, Kazan June 30, 2018 2022 Round of 16 Australia 1 0 Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan December 3, 2022 Quarterfinal Netherlands 1 1 Lusail Stadium, Lusail December 9, 2022 Semifinal Croatia 1 1 Lusail Stadium, Lusail December 13, 2022 Final France 2 0 Lusail Stadium, Lusail December 18, 2022 2026 Round of 32 Cape Verde 1 0 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens July 3, 2026 Round of 16 Egypt 1 1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta July 7, 2026 Quarterfinal Switzerland 0 1 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City July 11, 2026 Semifinal England 0 2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta July 15, 2026 France’s Kylian Mbappe is second on the list of players with the most goal contributions in FIFA World Cup knockout matches.

The 27-year-old forward has featured in 12 FIFA World Cup knockout matches so far and has scored 12 goals in addition to setting up three more for his teammates, taking his total tally of goal contributions to 15. Most goal contributions in FIFA World Cup knockout matches PLAYER COUNTRY MATCHES GOALS ASSISTS TOTAL GOAL CONTRIBUTIONS Lionel Messi Argentina 16 7 10 17 Kylian Mbappe Argentina 12 12 3 15 Pele Brazil 6 7 3 10 Mbappe is the only player in the world to score 10-plus goals in FIFA World Cup knockout matches, and he also has a hat-trick to his name in a FIFA World Cup final. He is also one of only five players to score in multiple FIFA World Cup finals. Players to score goals in multiple FIFA World Cup Finals PLAYER COUNTRY GOALS FINALS PLAYED FINAL(s) Kylian Mbappé France 4 2 2018 (1), 2022 (3) Vavá Brazil 3 2 1958 (2), 1962 (1) Pelé Brazil 3 2 1958 (2), 1970 (1) Zinedine Zidane France 3 2 1998 (2), 2006 (1) Paul Breitner West Germany 2 2 1974 (1), 1982 (1) In the ongoing edition of the FIFA World Cup, Messi has played all seven matches for Argentina so far and has scored eight goals in addition to providing four assists. With 12 goal contributions, he is leading the Golden Boot race and is also set to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball for a record-extending third time in his career. Lionel Messi at FIFA World Cup 2026 MATCH TYPE AGAINST MESSI’s GOAL(S) MESSI’s ASSIST(S) RESULT SCORELINE VENUE DATE Group J Algeria 3 0 Win 3-0 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City June 16 Group J Austria 2 0 Win 2-0 AT&T Stadium, Arlington June 22 Group J Jordan 1 0 Win 3-1 AT&T Stadium, Arlington June 27 Round of 16 Cape Verde 1 0 Win 3-2 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens July 3 Round of 32 Egypt 1 1 Win 3-2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta July 7 Quarterfinal Switzerland 0 1 Win 3-1 Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City July 11 Semifinal England 0 2 Win 2-1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta July 15 Messi has captained Argentina to seven wins in the ongoing edition of the FIFA World Cup.