Lionel Messi has increased his goal tally for the 2026 World Cup to seven, scoring again in Argentina's victory over Cape Verde. His continued performance highlights the longevity of elite players in modern football.
Emma Hayes, a football analyst, suggested that the record for most goals scored by a player in a single World Cup, Just Fontaine's 13 in 1958, could be broken this summer. Hayes also believes that the skill set required for world-class finishers will lead to more players, including Messi (39) and Cristiano Ronaldo (41), competing into their 40s, potentially even at another World Cup.
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