What happened: Lionel Messi scored twice on Tuesday to lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Algeria in their 2026 World Cup opener. The brace brings Messi’s career tournament total to 15 goals, moving him into a tie for second place on the all-time scoring list. The match also marked his 200th international appearance for the national team.
Why it matters: Messi now shares second place with Brazil's Ronaldo Nazario, trailing only Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals. At 38 years old, Messi is the first player in history to compete in six different World Cup tournaments. Messi entered the tournament as the focal point of Argentina's squad after overcoming an injury concern in late May.
By the numbers: All-Time World Cup Goals: • Miroslav Klose: 16 • Lionel Messi: 15 • Ronaldo Nazario: 15 Career Milestones: • International Caps: 200 • World Cups Played: 6
What to watch: Argentina returns to action against Austria on June 21, where Messi will look to equal or break the all-time scoring record.