Could Messi break Fontaine's ultimate World Cup goals record at the 2026 World Cup?
Quick summary
The Athletic examines whether Lionel Messi can challenge Just Fontaine's all-time World Cup goals record of 13 goals at the 2026 tournament.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThe record for most goals (13) in one World Cup has stood since 1958. It seemed unreachable, but could now be at risk
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What happened
The article explores the possibility of Lionel Messi breaking Just Fontaine's legendary record of 13 goals at a single World Cup (set in 1958). With Argentina qualified for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, and Messi still active at Inter Miami, the piece analyzes his current World Cup tally, his goal-scoring trajectory across tournaments, and the likelihood of him surpassing the Frenchman's mark. Kylian Mbappé is also mentioned as another active star pursuing World Cup goal-scoring milestones. The analysis covers Messi's tournament-by-tournament record, Argentina's potential path, and the physical demands on a player in his late 30s or 40s.
Chance analysis
This is a feature/evergreen analysis about Messi's pursuit of a historic World Cup record. It holds predictive relevance for 2026 World Cup markets: if Messi is confirmed to participate and Argentina's group-stage and knockout path is known, goal-scorer markets and Argentina's attacking outlook are directly affected. Mbappé's inclusion as a secondary storyline adds relevance to France's tournament ambitions. The article is more speculative and analytical than news-driven, with no breaking developments.
If Messi commits to and performs at the 2026 World Cup, Argentina's attacking identity and individual goal-scorer markets could see a notable boost; Fontaine's record remains a long shot but is a compelling narrative factor.
Monitor Messi's World Cup participation confirmation and Argentina's 2026 group draw — his record pursuit could shape Argentina's attacking approach and individual goal-scorer markets.