Messi: History Made.
Messi sets World Cup assist record, equals goals mark as Argentina advances.
Key Points
Messi delivered a perfectly executed corner that Alexis Mac Allister headed home to give Argentina the lead in the Switzerland quarterfinal.
Messi's 10th World Cup assist breaks Diego Maradona's previous record of 8; he has already provided two assists in this World Cup and is tied with Kylian Mbappe for the tournament's goals lead at eight.
Messi has become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 21 career goals, extending his record across six World Cups and knockout-stage appearances.
Market data shows a notable uptick in Golden Boot odds for Messi, with some sub-markets pricing a 45.4% chance, while rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Jude Bellingham remain in contention.
Argentina's quarterfinal win over Switzerland sets up a potential semifinal against England, as the winner advances to face England in the next round.
Lionel Messi has made history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first player ever to record 10 assists in World Cup competition. The milestone came when he set up Alexis Mac Allister's header against Switzerland in the quarterfinals, according to AS and The Sports Tak.
The record breaks Diego Maradona's previous mark of eight World Cup assists. Messi is also the all-time leading World Cup scorer, with 21 career goals across six tournaments. At 39, this may be his final World Cup — and he is making it count.
The Assist That Rewrote World Cup History
Messi delivered a perfectly placed corner kick in Argentina's quarterfinal against Switzerland. Mac Allister met the ball and headed it home to give Argentina the lead. That single moment pushed Messi past Maradona's long-standing record of eight World Cup assists, according to YS Scores.
Messi now has 10 career World Cup assists. He has also added two assists in this 2026 tournament alone. No other player in World Cup history has reached double digits in assists. The record span six tournaments and stretches back to Messi's first World Cup in 2006.
Messi Now Owns the World Cup Scoring Record Too
Earlier in the 2026 tournament, Messi also became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 21 career goals, according to SSB Crack News. He passed the previous record during Argentina's comeback win over Egypt, cementing his place at the top of both major World Cup statistical categories.
Messi is currently tied with Kylian Mbappé for the tournament's goals lead at eight. That puts him firmly in Golden Boot contention. Winning the Golden Boot — given to the tournament's top scorer — would cap one of the most remarkable individual World Cup campaigns in the sport's history.
Golden Boot Odds Surge as Messi Stays Hot
Messi's record-breaking run has moved markets. Prediction platforms now price his chance of winning the Golden Boot at 45.4%, according to Crypto Briefing. That figure reflects a sharp rise in confidence compared to earlier in the tournament. Rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Jude Bellingham remain in the mix but trail Messi in probability.
With Argentina still alive in the knockout stages, Messi has more chances to add to his tally. Each game Argentina wins gives him another 90-plus minutes to score. The Golden Boot race is tight, but Messi's form and Argentina's path deep into the tournament put him in the best position.
Argentina Advance, England Semifinal Looms
The win over Switzerland puts Argentina into the semifinal. Their likely opponents: England. That would set up one of football's most storied rivalries in the last four. For Argentina, getting through Switzerland was a key test of their ability to grind out results in high-pressure knockout games.
For Messi, now 39, every match could be his last World Cup game. He has competed across six tournaments — a feat no other player has matched. Argentina's continued run keeps alive the possibility that he walks away with every major individual and team prize the tournament offers.
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