Which World Cup records could Lionel Messi break in Qatar?

Gabriel Batistuta is Argentina’s all-time top scorer in the World Cup having netted 10 goals in 12 appearances across the 1994, 1998 and 2002 tournaments. Batistuta was, of course, an striker who was prolific in front of goal wherever he went in his career. However, Lionel Messi has the chance to snatch the record away from him in Qatar, although it will be no easy task.

How many goals does Lionel Messi need to become Argentina’s all-time World Cup record goalscorer?

Batistuta, who made his professional debut for Newell’s Old Boys, where Messi played in the youth academy, only featured in three World Cups, while the Paris Saint-Germain star will be making his fifth appearance in the competition in Qatar. On top of that, Messi has already taken part in 19 World Cup matches, which means Batigol’s goals-per-game average will remain unbeaten, probably for a long time.

The former Fiorentina striker scored four goals in 1994 and five in 1998, averaging a goal per game across his first two tournaments. In 2002, he added one more to his tally for La Albiceleste, who didn’t make it out of the group stages.

Messi has been much less prolific in World Cups and for that reason, his goals-per-game average (0.32) is much lower than Batistuta’s (0.83). The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner failed to score in five matches in 2010 and only scored once in four games in 2018. In 2014, however, he was more prevalent in front of goal, netting four times in seven matches as Argentina reached the final.

Messi has scored a total of six goals in 19 World Cup games, which means he needs to find the net on five occasions in what he has confirmed will be his final tournament in Qatar to become the new record holder.

How many games does Lionel Messi need to play to become become Argentina’s all-time World Cup record appearance-maker?

A record that the former Barcelona playmaker is set to break, however, is that of most appearances for Argentina in the World Cup, currently held by Diego Maradona. Should Messi feature in all three group games, he will surpass El Pelusa’s total of 21 appearances.

Maradona is also currently ahead of Messi on Argentina’s all-time World Cup goalscorers list, with eight goals leaving the former Napoli icon in second spot behind Batistuta, tied with Guillermo Stábile. Stábile incredibly scored eight times in four matches in the 1930 World Cup, a goals-per-game record which is unlikely to ever be broken.