How many goals will Lionel Messi score at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Lionel Messi finally conquered the soccer world in 2022 when Argentina won the World Cup, but does the soon-to-be 39-year-old have enough to continue to once again produce for Lionel Scaloni? We’ll soon find out when the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11.
Although Argentina won’t see action until they face Algeria in their first group game on Tuesday, June 16, the anticipation is building. I expect Messi to be in the Starting XI, so let’s break down what the Inter Miami man can do at this year’s World Cup.
Check out our full list of 2026 World Cup odds.
Messi’s International Goal History
The 2026 World Cup marks Messi’s sixth World Cup, and it will likely be his last. However, there is no denying his influence on the world’s biggest stage; Messi has 13 goals and six assists in 26 appearances and 24 starts since the 2006 World Cup. Although he’s been productive at the biggest stage, he’s also a major reason why Argentina captured the 2022 trophy and qualified for this one. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Messi tallied eight goals and three assists in 12 matches, leading the team in scoring while tied for first in assists.
It’s evident that this Argentina squad still needs the veteran to produce in order to make a deep tournament run. However, asking him to deliver a 10-point performance over the course of the entire tournament as he did in 2022 feels a bit unrealistic — though I’ve learned to never doubt Leo.
Argentina’s Starting Lineup
There is no question in my mind that Messi will be in Scaloni’s starting lineup. Outside of the departure of Angel Di Maria, Argentina’s squad is identical to the 2022 champions, so Messi should slot in at right wing. We will likely see Thiago Almada slide in for Di Maria at left wing, and I expect Julian Alvarez to start in the striker role, as he did in 2022.
This allows Messi to play with freedom, especially when Argentina has a central midfield of Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul. With those star facilitators around him, I expect Messi to see plenty of scoring chances. Finally, their group is also an advantage for the former Barcelona star, as Argentina will face Austria (23rd in FIFA Rankings), Algeria (28th) and Jordan (63rd).
Lionel Messi Stats
The 38-year-old enters this tournament in red-hot form, as he’s lighting up the MLS for Inter Miami once again. Messi has 12 goals and eight assists through 14 matches, which is the second and third-most in the league, respectively. Last season, he led the league in goals and assists, and he has five goals and seven assists in Inter Miami’s last five matches leading up to this tournament.
It’s safe to say that Argentina is getting an in-form Messi for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Lionel Messi World Cup Odds
Messi’s total goals is at 3.5 on the World Cup odds board; the over has +110 odds, and the under sits at -155. I think you’re crazy not to take that over, as he tallied seven in 2022 over seven games, while I expect Argentina to make it to the semifinals at a minimum. This would give Messi at least seven matches to surpass this total due to tournament expansion. To put an exact number on it, I predict the Argentinian legend will finish the tournament with five goals.
Best Bet: Lionel Messi Over 3.5 Goals (+110)