When Lionel Messi stepped onto the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, many believed it would be the final adventure of a legend who had conquered every peak.
However, the Argentinian superstar once again earned the world's admiration by setting an unprecedented milestone in World Cup history: becoming the all-time leading scorer in the most prestigious tournament on the planet.
From a small boy in Rosario to the leader of the Argentine national team, Messi's journey at the World Cup is a story of perseverance, ambition, and boundless passion. He made his debut on the world's biggest stage in 2006 at the age of 18. In the match against Serbia and Montenegro, Messi scored his first World Cup goal, opening a new chapter in a legendary career.
For the next two decades, Messi was always at the center of every Argentina World Cup campaign. He experienced the full spectrum of emotions, from the pain of defeats in the quarter-finals of 2006 and 2010, the bitter final of 2014, to the historic moment of triumph in Qatar in 2022.
Each World Cup has left its own unique mark, contributing to the completion of the portrait of one of the greatest players in football history.
Unlike many strikers who rely solely on their goal-scoring ability, Messi has made his mark through his all-around skills. M10 can create chances, dictate play, make breakthroughs with his dribbling, or finish off opponents himself with exquisite finishing. It is this consistency and ability to maintain top-level performance across generations that has allowed him to continuously increase his goal tally at the World Cup.
At 39 years old at the 2026 World Cup, Messi remains the driving force of the Albiceleste. His smooth ball control, sharp tactical vision, and goal-scoring instinct are still intact. The goals he scored in the group stage helped him surpass legend Miroslav Klose to claim the top spot on the list of the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history.
What makes Messi's achievement so special is not just the number of goals. He is the first player to score in multiple World Cups over a period of 20 years. From a promising young talent to a seasoned leader, Messi has transformed the World Cup into his own stage to tell the story of the enduring genius of football.
In the modern era, where the pace of competition is increasingly intense and the rivalry increasingly fierce, maintaining peak performance for two decades is almost impossible. But Messi has done it, not only breaking records that had stood for decades but also setting new milestones for future generations to conquer.
Messi's statistics may be surpassed in the future. But the mark he left at the World Cup will always endure. Because more than just goals, Messi transformed his journey into a symbol of perseverance, talent, and the desire to win. And that is the greatest legacy the Argentine legend left to world football.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/lionel-messi-viet-lai-lich-su-world-cup-196260623031355781.htm
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