Lionel Messi sits one assist away from owning a World Cup record outright, and the man he would surpass is Diego Maradona. It is a milestone that feels less like a stat line and more like a passing of the torch.
According to Opta data tracked since 1966, Messi and Maradona are tied for the most assists in FIFA World Cup history with eight each. One more assist in the 2026 tournament, and Messi stands alone at the top.
Across 26 World Cup appearances spanning five tournaments from 2006 to 2022, Messi has compiled 13 goals and 8 assists. Those 26 caps make him the most-capped player in World Cup history. During Argentina’s triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar, Messi contributed three of those eight assists. He delivered nearly 40% of his career World Cup assists in a single tournament at age 35, while leading his country to a title it hadn't held since 1986.
In knockout rounds specifically, Messi has recorded six assists, tying him with Pelé.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marks what most observers expect to be Messi’s final World Cup, as he will be 39. The expanded 48-team format provides more matches. Messi would need only one through ball, one corner kick, or one credited assist to claim the record.
Surpassing Maradona carries deep symbolic weight in Argentina, where the two are locked in an eternal debate over national sporting supremacy. Messi already holds the 2022 trophy that Maradona’s supporters long held as a trump card.