Lionel Messi as soon as once more led the Argentina nationwide staff throughout a stellar 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying marketing campaign, guiding La Albiceleste to the highest of the desk with 38 factors from 18 video games. With the qualifiers concluding on Tuesday, Messi made historical past by attaining a feat with Argentina for the primary time in 24 years.
Argentina turned the primary South American nation to safe qualification for the 2026 World Cup again in March in the course of the worldwide break, following wins over Uruguay and Brazil. Regardless of lacking a number of matches, Messi’s constant scoring remained a key storyline, culminating in him attaining a milestone for the primary time in his worldwide profession.
For the primary time, Lionel Messi completed as the highest goalscorer of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers for Argentina. The Inter Miami star appeared in 12 matches on the street to the 2026 match, ending with 8 targets and surpassing Colombia’s Luis Díaz and Bolivia’s Miguel Terceros, who each scored 7.
Messi discovered the web in 4 totally different matches: one objective in opposition to Ecuador in Matchday 1, a brace in opposition to Peru in Matchday 4, a hat-trick in opposition to Bolivia in Matchday 10, and one other brace in his farewell sport in opposition to Venezuela in Matchday 17.
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the staff’s fifth objective in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 South American Qualifier match between Argentina and Bolivia.
Since his debut in 2005, Messi has competed in six editions of the CONMEBOL qualifiers, bringing his profession complete to 36 targets within the competitors. The final Argentine to complete as prime scorer was Hernán Crespo 24 years in the past in the course of the street to the 2002 World Cup, a document Messi has now damaged.
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Messi provides one other competitors to his prime scorer accolades
Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi has constructed probably the most prolific careers in soccer historical past, frequently ending as prime scorer in competitions he participates in. Along with his 8 targets within the 2026 CONMEBOL qualifiers, Messi provides one more competitors to his intensive checklist of scoring titles.
Throughout his profession, Messi has claimed six Golden Boots and completed as the highest scorer 30 instances in main competitions:
- La Liga (x8).
- UEFA Champions League (x6).
- Spanish Tremendous Cup (x5).
- Copa del Rey (x4).
- UEFA Tremendous Cup (x2).
- U-20 World Cup (x1).
- FIFA Membership World Cup (x1).
- Copa America (x1).
- Leagues Cup (x1).
- CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers (x1).
