Global InformationList of international goals scored by Lionel Messi information
Lionel Messi is an Argentine footballer who has represented the Argentina national team from his debut in 2005. Since then, Messi has scored 106 goals in 180 international appearances,[1][2] making him the country's all-time top scorer; he surpassed Gabriel Batistuta's record of 54 goals with a free kick against the United States in the semi-final of the Copa América Centenario on 21 June 2016.[3][4] He also holds the record for most goals by a South American male, surpassing Brazilian Pelé's 77 goals with a hat-trick against Bolivia in September 2021.[5] Messi made his debut for Argentina in a 2–1 away win over Hungary on 17 August 2005,[6] and scored his first international goal the following year in his sixth appearance, against Croatia.[1]
Messi's goal against Serbia and Montenegro, on 16 June 2006, at the age of 18 years and 358 days, made him the youngest-ever scorer for Argentina at a FIFA World Cup.[7][8] He has scored nine international hat-tricks, and has netted twice in a match on twelve occasions.[1] In a June 2022 friendly against Estonia, Messi scored five goals in a match for Argentina for the first time.[9] Out of all his opponents, Messi has scored the most against Bolivia, recording eight goals in total.[1]
Messi has scored 31 goals in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, making him the highest scorer of the qualification in CONMEBOL.[10] He has scored thirteen goals in the Copa América,[1] leading his team to victory in the 2021 edition of the tournament, also finishing as runner-up in 2007, 2015 and 2016. At the 2015 tournament, Messi allegedly rejected the Best Player award, and the trophy was omitted from the ceremony.[11][12] Nonetheless, he received the Best Player award and accepted it for his performances in the 2021 tournament.[13] Messi has scored thirteen times in FIFA World Cup tournaments,[1] a record for Argentina;[14] he scored one goal in 2006, four in 2014, when he guided his team to the final, being awarded the Golden Ball for best player,[15] one in 2018 and another seven in 2022, when he captained Argentina to their third world title, scoring twice in the final and winning the Golden Ball for a record second time.[16] The remainder of Messi's goals, 49, have come in friendlies.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g Mamrud, Roberto (19 January 2024). "Lionel Andrés Messi – Century of International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Ansari, Aarish (18 January 2024). "Most goals in international football: From Pelé and Puskás to Cristiano and Sunil Chhetri". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Lionel Messi breaks Argentina's all-time goal-scoring record". ESPN. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Messi, máximo artillero histórico de la selección argentina" (in Spanish). FIFA. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Argentina's Lionel Messi breaks Brazil legend Pele's South American men's goals record". ESPN. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ Vickery, Tim (22 August 2005). "Messi Handles 'New Maradona' Tag". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Nalwala, Ali Asgar (24 November 2022). "Youngest goal-scorers in men's FIFA World Cup: Pele's landmark strike at 17!". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro". BBC Sport. 16 June 2006. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ArgVsEst22was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Lionel Messi scores free-kick goal to lift Argentina to 1–0 win in World Cup qualifier vs. Ecuador". The Athletic. 7 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
- ^ "BeIN Sports: Messi habría rechazado el MVP del torneo" [BeIN Sports: Messi reportedly rejects MVP award for tournament]. AS.com (in Spanish). 5 July 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ "Lionel Messi allegedly refuses best player award at Copa America as trophy removed from ceremony". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "Player of the tournament, top scorer and best goalkeeper: Stars of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021". Copa América. 11 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ Bernstein, Dan (13 December 2022). "WATCH: Lionel Messi gives Argentina lead against Croatia in World Cup semi-final with record-breaking penalty". Goal. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ "Messi, Neuer Heralded as Brazil 2014's Best". FIFA. 13 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "World Cup Golden Ball: Full winners list & how best player award is decided". Goal. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.