Lionel Messi's best World Cup goals: Where Argentina soccer legend's heroics vs. Egypt ranks all-time

Lionel Messi is the World Cup's greatest-ever goal-scorer. He's also the scorer of some of the competition's greatest-ever goals, employing all sorts of different techniques to make the net move.

The Argentina supernova is arguably the sport's grandest talent. He has showcased his glint skillset on the world's stage time and time again, producing strikes that have left the masses, supporters, teammates and opposing players alike in awe.

From his first tally against Serbia and Montenegro to his recent finish against Egypt, the 39-year-old has conjured up more highlights than most. But which of his World Cup goals reign supreme?

The Sporting News digs through the vault to rank Messi's greatest-ever World Cup goals.

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Lionel Messi's best World Cup goals

Messi has scored more World Cup goals than any other player in his glittering career. A fair few of those strikes have been notable. Here's a look back at the most memorable tallies in his World Cup career with La Albiceleste.

1. Nigeria - 2018

Messi has scored more momentous goals than the one he tallied in Argentina's group stage tilt with Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup. But none have proven as eye-catching as this one, which saw him latch onto Ever Banega's pinged pass, control the unruly ball deftly and lash the ball into the top corner with his right foot.

The strike made admirers out of many, including the late Diego Maradona, who couldn't help but look to the heavens after the ball found its target.

Lionel Messi contrôlant le ballon en courant sans que le ballon ne touche même le sol et concluant d’un tir du pied faible contre le Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/62PPHHVPKN

— LAMYN 🍓🇧🇪 (@blaugranab30701) July 2, 2026

2. France - 2022

Messi finished off a flashy Argentine move in style during the 2022 World Cup final, rushing onto a delightful Lautaro Martinez cushion before playing the ball into Enzo Fernandez, who slipped Martinez in with a sumptuous flick of his own.

Martinez's effort was deflected away by French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. His parry fell right into Messi's path, who sprayed the ball home from short range to give La Albiceleste a late lead in extra time. Argentina would be crowned World Cup champions after the penalty shootout, while Messi took home Golden Ball honors as the tournament's best player.

3. Egypt - 2026

Messi and the Argentines had rarely faced a challenge like the Pharaohs in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, falling behind 2-0 following splendid strikes from Yassine Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico.

The deficit could have been greater, with a series of contentious refereeing decisions benefitting La Albiceleste. Nevertheless, Messi — held quiet for much of the game's opening hour — sparked into life after moving to the right wing, setting up Argentina's first goal before bursting the net with one of his own in the 83rd minute.

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026

The 39-year-old launched a fiery volley towards Mostafa Shoubir's net, sending the Argentine faithful who pooled into Mercedes-Benz Stadium into raptures as the ball danced in the netting. Shoubir likely should have saved the effort — it flicked off his hands before nestling into the cage. Nevertheless, the goal proved momentous, saving Argentina from what once appeared to be certain defeat at the hands of Egypt.

4. Nigeria - 2014

Messi has just one goal from a direct free kick in the World Cup. His sole score was a doozy, however, curling over Nigeria's wall before settling into the side netting. Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama didn't even bother attempting to dive for the ball. Any effort to turn away the strike would be fruitless.

5. Iran - 2014

Messi cleaned up during the 2014 group stage, tallying four goals in three matches. His last-gasp strike against Iran was one of the picks of the bunch. A dogged defensive display saw Melli Melli enter stoppage time having yet to concede a goal to the Messi-led Argentine attack.

So, La Albiceleste's No. 10 took things into his own hands — or feet. Messi jinked inside before rifling the ball into the far corner. He wheeled off into celebration as one would do, stretching his arms outward before being swarmed by his teammates. Given the way the ball flew off of his foot, it's easy to see why his compatriots were so desperate to crowd him.

MORE: Where Argentina's stunning win over Egypt ranks among greatest comebacks in WC history

6. Cape Verde - 2026

Messi found the target against Cape Verde with a similar effort to the one he put forth against Nigeria eight years earlier. He caressed a lofted pass perfectly before lifting it above Vozinha's outstretched grasp, kicking off Argentina's scoring in the Round of 32 in a major way.

The only knock on this goal is that it came from closer than the Nigeria goal did. It also featured Messi's left-foot exclusive, giving it a slightly easier degree of difficulty than his right-footed finish against Nigeria. Nevertheless, the goal remains one of his many pearls.

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

7. Bosnia and Herzegovina - 2014

Messi has long had a habit of slaloming post overmatched defenders before finding the corner. He justified that reputation with his goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2014 World Cup, leaving two defenders on their backside before sliding the ball past Asmir Begovic.

The goal was typical Messi, featuring intricate dribbling, dizzying feints and the kiss of death: his wand-like left foot.

8. Serbia and Montenegro - 2006

You'll never forget your first. Messi's first World Cup goal came in a 6-0 thrashing of Serbia and Montenegro. Sporting the blanket-like jersey and woolly mane he was known for as a teenager, Messi calmly slotted with his right foot, becoming one of the tournament's youngest-ever goal-scorers.

How many World Cup goals does Lionel Messi have?

After tallying against Egypt, Messi is up to a whopping 21 goals across his World Cup career. That's the most in World Cup history, two greater than French supernova Kylian Mbappe, who has 19 goals in 19 World Cup games.

With 0.68 goals per World Cup match, Messi is one of the steadiest World Cup performers. Mbappe is the likeliest player to surpass the Argentine playmaker, with his age and goal-scoring record appearing to suggest that he could sit at the top of the pile once Messi ends his international career.

How many goals for club and country does Lionel Messi have?

Messi has scored 930 goals in his professional career. 805 have come at the club level, while the other 125 stem from his tallies as a member of Argentina's national team. He ranks second all-time on soccer's goal-scoring list, trailing longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has collected nearly 1,000 goals across his glittering career. No other active players are within reach of Ronaldo or Messi, with the closest — Poland and Chicago Fire Robert Lewandowski —tallying "just" 751 goals across his career.

Lionel Messi age

Messi is 39 years old. He celebrated his 39th birthday on June 24th.