Lionel Messi surpassed Gabriel Batistuta in Qatar and isolated himself at the top of the Albiceleste’s goalscoring statistics
Lionel Messi is the top scorer of the Argentine team in the history of World Cups, with 13 goals scored in 26 matches. The number 10 reached the absolute top of the list during the third championship campaign in Qatar, in 2022, when he surpassed the old brand of Gabriel Batistutawho had maintained the isolated leadership for more than two decades with ten goals scored.
The record breaking and the campaign in Qatar
The current Argentine captain’s path to the top of this statistic required constancy and longevity. The attacker participated in five editions of the tournament (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022) to be able to consolidate your numbers. The statistical turnaround happened explosively in the Middle East edition, when Messi scored seven goals in the third championship campaignincluding two in the grand final played against France.
Before the 2022 World Cup, the player only scored six goals in World Cups. The dominant performance at the age of 35 not only secured the title he dreamed of, but also made him the country’s top scorer in the tournament.
Historical ranking of Argentine goalscorers in World Cups
The list of top scorers reflects different eras of dominance by the South American team. THE podium of the great Argentine scorers concentrates historic names from the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
1. Lionel Messi (13 goals)
The owner of first place distributed his goals in four different editions. There were one in 2006, four in 2014, one in 2018 and seven in 2022. He only missed out on the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa.
2. Gabriel Batistuta (10 goals)
The legendary center forward held the title of the team’s top scorer for 20 years. Batigol scored in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 editions, displaying impressive offensive precision in the competition.
3. Diego Maradona (8 goals)
The great hero of the second championship in 1986 shared his goals over four World Cups. His most notable performance came in Mexico, where he led the team and built his legacy as football legend.
4. Guillermo Stábile (8 goals)
With a average of more than one goal per gamethe former striker scored all eight of his goals in just four matches during the first World Cup in history, held in 1930 in Uruguay.
5. Mario Kempes (6 goals)
The main name of Argentina’s first world title scored all his goals in the 1978 edition, playing at home, finishing as the absolute top scorer in that competition.
The scenario for the attackers of the current squad
Looking at the current generation under the command of coach Lionel Scaloni, the mark established by number 10 seems unattainable in the short and medium term. Among the active front players who are old enough to compete in future editions of the tournament, striker Julián Álvarez has scored four goalsall of which were noted during the 2022 competition.
Attacking names like Lautaro Martínez have modest numbers in the FIFA competition and continue very far from the main record.
Lionel Messi’s consolidation in first place directly reflects the offensive tradition of the three-time world championcrowning the international trajectory of the athlete who broke practically all possible marks with his country’s shirt.
