Messi at 38: Is This the Greatest Individual World Cup Tournament Performance Ever?

[StarLord67]

Five goals in two games at the age of 38. A hat-trick in game one. A brace that broke the all-time World Cup scoring record in game two. Missed a penalty in between but scored twice in the same match anyway. Argentina are through to the knockout stages. The debate about Messi and the greatest individual World Cup tournament performances is now very much alive. Ronaldo Pele Maradona Zidane Mbappe in 2022. Where does a 38-year-old Messi in 2026 fit? He still has at least two more games. Possibly five or six. The numbers are already historic.

[DistantSequence]

Just Fontaine scored 13 in a single tournament in 1958. Messi has five in two games. The pace is extraordinary

[Maisie84]

Maradona 1986 is always the reference for individual tournament performances. This Messi run is already comparable

[ClaudioHerrera]

The fact he's doing this at 38 when most people thought his best World Cup was 2022 is surreal

[TheRock25]

If Argentina win the tournament and Messi ends with eight or nine goals this becomes the single greatest tournament by any player

[BlackMamba]

Five goals already and three group games minimum left to play. The final tally could be extraordinary

[WearyCoder]

The penalty miss makes it more incredible not less. He failed and immediately responded with history

[John]

Pele 1970 is comparable in terms of influence on a winning team. But Messi's goal contribution is more direct

[GoldbergFan86]

People will be talking about 2026 Messi the way they talk about 1986 Maradona in Argentina forever

[FridayFeeling]

He's also leading assists. Goals and assists. Setting records and creating them simultaneously

[BigDog26]

The question used to be Messi or Ronaldo. Now it might just be Messi versus history