Lionel Messi scored three goals in Argentina's first match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and that burst immediately pulled him level with Miroslav Klose on the all-time World Cup goals list. Argentina won its opener in the USA, Kanada und Mexiko, but the headline belongs to Messi because the tournament began with a record-tying performance from one of the game’s most watched players.
That is why his name is drawing searches now. At a World Cup, the leading scorer receives the FIFA Goldenen Schuh, and Messi has moved straight into that race with three goals from one match. Kylian Mbappé is next on the list after scoring two against Senegal, which keeps the early scoring picture tight and gives the opening round immediate weight beyond a single result.
The bigger point is that Messi has not moved clear of the record; he has joined it. Matching Klose means the all-time mark is now shared, not broken, and that distinction matters because a tie leaves the next goal carrying extra historical value. For Argentina, that makes every future match part of a record chase rather than a celebration of a new outright leader.
The unanswered question is simple: when does Messi get the chance to break the tie, if he gets it at all? The tournament’s scoring list is already live, the Goldenen Schuh race has begun, and the most consequential next step is whether Argentina’s captain turns a shared record into one he owns alone.
