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