Messi one assist from sole World Cup assists record in 2026
Lionel Messi is one assist away from claiming sole ownership of the FIFA World Cup assists record. He currently shares the mark with Diego Maradona at eight assists, per Opta data tracked since 1966. In the 2026 tournament, one more Messi World Cup assists record would put him alone at the top.
Messi has 13 goals and 8 assists across 26 World Cup appearances (2006 to 2022), making him the most-capped player in World Cup history. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup—Argentina’s title-winning campaign—Messi recorded three of his eight career World Cup assists, nearly 40% of the total in a single tournament. In knockout matches, he has six assists, tying Pelé.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, and it will use an expanded 48-team format. That means more matches and deeper rotations. The article notes Messi would only need a single Opta-credited through ball, corner delivery, or assist (up to as many as seven games for finalists) to complete the World Cup assists record.
With Messi expected to be 39 by the tournament start—likely his final World Cup—this milestone also carries symbolic weight in Argentina’s long-running debate over sporting supremacy between Messi and Maradona. A win by Messi would add another layer to his already-held 2022 trophy legacy.
Neutral
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