New Delhi: Lionel Messi rewrote footballing history Monday night, becoming the player with the most goals in FIFA men’s World Cup history. His twin strikes in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria in their Group J clash mean that he now sits atop the list of top goalscorers. However, he also became the most prolific playmaker in FIFA World Cup history, with 76 goal-scoring opportunities since 1966.
Last night’s appearance at the Dallas Stadium was Messi’s 28th in World Cup finals. And in those 28 games, he has created a record number of goal-scoring opportunities, placing him at the top of the pile in yet another list. The 2022 World Cup winner sits just above compatriot and football icon Diego Maradona, who created 71 chances in his 21 games. Maradona also notably won football’s biggest trophy in 1986 and finished as runners-up to Germany in 1990.
In third place sits West Germany’s Wolfgang Overath. The legendary playmaker was one of the finest creative players of his time, and in 19 World Cup appearances, he dished out 62 goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. He is also a World Cup winner, winning the tournament on home soil in 1974.
Just behind him in the elite list is compatriot and former German captain Lothar Matthaus. The 1990 winner held the record for the most World Cup appearances, with 25, before being overtaken by Messi. In those 25 games, Matthaus created 54 chances, a ratio of more than two chances per game.
Rounding up the top five of the most creative players’ list in the tournament’s history is former French midfielder Alain Giresse. He is most famous for anchoring France’s legendary “Carré Magique” (Magic Square) midfield alongside Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, and Luis Fernández. In just 12 World Cup appearances, Giresse created 51 goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. He never won football’s ultimate prize, and a third-place finish in Mexico in 1986 was his best run.
Also read: From penalty miss to history-maker—Messi becomes World Cup all-time top scorer against Austria
Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe
Messi has netted the ball a record 18 times since he made his tournament debut in 2006.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose and French talisman Kylian Mbappe, who also scored a brace early Tuesday, are joint second on the list, with 16 goals each.
Mbappe is the biggest active competitor chasing Messi on the all-time men’s World Cup top scorers list. At just 27, Mbappe has already scored 16 World Cup goals, matching Klose and trailing Messi by a mere two goals.
Mbappe scores at a far higher frequency than Messi did over his World Cup career. The French forward reached 16 goals in just 16 matches, whereas Messi required 28 matches to hit his record-breaking 18 goals.
Meanwhile, Messi is currently playing in his record-extending sixth World Cup tournament at the tail end of his career. Incidentally, Mbappe is only in his third tournament. Given his age, Mbappe is highly likely to play in at least two more World Cups (2030 and 2034).
Messi and Argentina next face Jordan in their final Group J fixture on June 28, at the Dallas Stadium. The Argentine maestro will look to continue his record-shattering run as La Albiceleste look to end the Group Stage of the tournament on a high, and enter the knockout stages in style.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)