Messi surpasses Pele to move into top 22 in World Cup goals scored
Argentina's Messi scores in the 2026 World Cup against Algeria. He has a total of 22 goals, surpassing Pele's 21 to become the single-most player on the all-time list.
Argentina national team forward Lionel Messi scored a goal against Algeria in Round 1 of Group J of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, increasing his total number of goals involved in World Cups (scores + assists) to 22. As a result, he surpassed the number 21 held by Brazilian legend Pele and became the sole player of all time. It was a historic moment that threw a decisive blow in the debate about who is the best soccer player in history.
%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fmedia.trivela.com.br%252Fmain%252F2026%252F06%252Fimago1078582978-scaled.jpg&w=1920&q=72&output=webp&we)
