Argentina face Croatia in the semi-finals of Qatar 2022 on Tuesday, led by Lionel Messi. So, HITC Football runs through all 10 of the goals the forward has scored at a World Cup so far.
Messi is currently playing at his fifth edition of the quadrennial FIFA tournament. He made his competition debut at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, while registering appearances in 2010, 2014 and 2018. The 35-year-old has also captained his side at each of the past three.
Argentina reached the final of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on Messi’s tournament bow as La Albiceleste’s permanent captain. But the 170-cap icon was unable to lead his side to the title as Germany won 1-0 in extra time. Argentina exited in the Round of 16 at Russia 2018.
Lionel Messi’s goals fired Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final and the 2022 semis
Messi was the talisman behind Argentina’s run to the final in 2014 after carrying Alejandro Sabella’s squad. He is also the lynchpin of the 1978 and 1986 champions’ path to the semi-finals in 2022 under Lionel Scaloni. Croatia are now in their path in Qatar on December 13.
A World Cup is the only winner’s medal missing from Messi’s illustrious trophy cabinet but his goals could secure one. He has only failed to score once over five appearances at Qatar 2022 so far. His previous best spread was at Brazil 2014 after scoring in three of seven ties.
Messi has also scored goals at four of the five World Cups he has featured at. He boasts 10 strikes over 24 appearances, plus seven assists, so far altogether. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Marquez, Lothar Matthaus and Antonio Carbajal have also featured at five editions.
So, ahead of Argentina meeting Croatia in the semi-finals of Qatar 2022 this Tuesday night, HITC Football has looked at all 10 of the goals Messi has so far scored at a World Cup…
Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup goal in his first appearance at Germany 2006
Messi only needed 14 minutes to score his first goal at a World Cup while making his debut in 2006. Boss Jose Nestor Pekerman introduced the Rosario native to the global stage at 18 years old as a late substitute against Serbia and Montenegro in their second Group C clash.
The South Americans were already leading 3-0 when Messi replaced Maxi Rodriguez in the 74th minute in Gelsenkirchen. It would be 4-0 within four minutes of his introduction after feeding Hernan Crespo. Carlos Tevez would also later find Messi to make it 6-0 in the 88th.
Argentina went on to make the quarter-finals at the 2006 World Cup but Messi would not add any further goals. He also failed to add any further assists in his next two appearances – including one start. Pekerman left the forward on their bench in their final-eight defeat.
Lionel Messi’s goals dragged Argentina out of Group F at the 2014 World Cup
Messi played all 450 minutes of Argentina’s 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa but did not score any goals. Yet he dragged La Albiceleste out of Group F at the 2014 edition in Brazil with four goals in three appearances. But he then failed to net any in the knockouts.
The forward doubled his nation’s lead against Bosnia and Herzegovina after Sead Kolasinac scored an own goal inside three minutes. Argentina would need Messi’s goal to secure the win at 2-1. He would then strike their only effort for a 1-0 win over Iran in the 91st minute.
A brace by Messi then put Argentina in the lead twice against Nigeria in their final Group F fixture. He scored after just three minutes before Ahmed Musa’s instant response. He also scored a direct free-kick before Musa replied again, only for Marcos Rojo to hit the winner.
La Albiceleste only won once in Russia with Lionel Messi scoring once in 2018
After reaching the final in 2014 before losing to Germany in extra time, Argentina went to Russia in 2018 eying the title. But their World Cup only lasted until the Round of 16 before losing 4-3 to France. They also only claimed one win over their four fixtures that summer.
Messi inspired La Albiceleste’s sole win in Russia with the opening goal against Nigeria on 14 minutes. Yet Victor Moses responded from the penalty spot early in the second half. It was, again, Rojo who denied the Super Eagles a result when he scored in the 86th minute.
It would prove to be Argentina’s only win and Messi’s only goal at the 2018 World Cup. But he did provide two assists against France. Gabriel Mercado put La Albiceleste ahead at 2-1 from Messi’s assist. But his 93rd-minute assist for Sergio Aguero just made it 4-3 to France.
Qatar 2022 has witnessed the most prolific global version of Lionel Messi yet
Qatar 2022 has witnessed the most prolific version of Messi the global stage has seen yet. The forward has matched his four goals scored at Brazil 2014 but over five games to seven. He has also provided two assists during 480 minutes to his one from 693 minutes in Brazil.
Messi has scored once against each of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia and the Netherlands so far in Qatar. His efforts against Mexico arguably kept La Albiceleste in the World Cup, as well. They had to edge El Tri after wasting his go-ahead penalty to lose 2-1 to Saudi Arabia.
Argentina faced a potential early exit from Qatar 2022 before Messi lit up a dull display for Scaloni’s side after 64 minutes against Mexico. He also then assisted Enzo Fernandez in the closing stages. Messi did not score or provide an assist as Argentina then beat Poland 2-0.
But after Poland kept Messi out with Wojciech Szczesny saving his penalty, the forward got back amongst the goals against Australia. The Socceroos could not stop Messi from netting his first goal in a World Cup knockout stage match as Argentina took a 2-1 win to progress.
Messi broke the deadlock after 35 minutes after rolling the ball into the bottom corner of Mat Ryan’s net. He would also then score a penalty against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. But despite it giving Argentina a 2-0 lead, Oranje replied to take the tie to penalties.
Virgil van Dijk missed the Netherlands’ first attempt in the shootout before Messi struck to give La Albiceleste an advantage. Emiliano Martinez would also deny Wout Weghorst, who scored Oranje’s two regular-time goals. Now, Argentina will face Croatia in the semi-finals.
Lionel Messi’s goal record at the World Cup ahead of the Qatar 2022 semi-finals
Germany 2006: Played (3) – Goals (1) – Assists (1) – Minutes (122)
South Africa 2010: Played (5) – Goals (0) – Assists (1) – Minutes (450)
Brazil 2014: Played (7) – Goals (4) – Assists (1) – Minutes (693)
Russia 2018: Played (4) – Goals (1) – Assists (2) – Minutes (360)
Qatar 2022: Played (5) – Goals (4) – Assists (2) – Minutes (480)
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