Lionel Messi leads 2026 South American World Cup qualifiers in goals

By
Roy Nemer
-
44

Lionel Messi leads the 2026 South American World Cup qualifiers with six goals.

Messi is at the top of scoring charts in South America. The Argentine scored three goals in Argentina’s 6-0 win vs. Bolivia and now has six goals in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the most in South America.

With his six goals, he surpasses Darwin Núñez of Uruguay who has five goals and Luis Díaz of Colombia who has four goals. The rest of the top 10 is tied on three goals each, including Nicolás Otamendi of Argentina.

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44 Comments

  2. Leading stats of major International tournaments from this century! 🇦🇷🐐

    • Most goals: Lionel Messi (27)
    • Most assists: Lionel Messi (26)
    • Most knock-out stage goals: Lionel Messi (11)
    • Most knock-out stage assists: Lionel Messi (18)

    It really piss me off when I see people even thinking to put same bracket or compare messi with taping merchants Ronaldo, messi is by far greatest player ever play football

  3. Since VAR era (WC2018) in WC, Copa+WCQ matches: Argentina 11 penalties for, 14!!! penalties against in 57 matches, Brazil 16!!! penalties for, 1!!! against in 54 matches. Argentina haters, VARzilians and a certain player’s fanbase fouled the whole world completely! But but but everything is RIGGED for Argentina!

  5. Now scaloni should concentrate on World Cup. We need some great midfielders specially seeing Enzo and depaul off form. Redondo can also be tried. And we need to find quality winger. Dimaria was fantastic in the world Cup final. Im still not impressed with the new ones and our biggest problem still is the fullbacks. Other position atleast we have quality options but we r not producing class players in fullback position for many years now

    • Nothing wrong with Enzo and De paul! You need the see the work they put in background! Midfield ain’t all about flashy and goal it’s more than that. We are on path of rebuilding. Shame for Carboni otherwise along with Paz he would have been great addition to our squad. Yes fullback maybe an issue however I believe we are in search for it. Soler might be the answer this kid is impressive on left side. Our biggest concern is wide players. Without Nico i don’t see anyone yet do a thing. He might miss chances or finishing not lethal as Di Maria used to be in his late career however Nico gets into position and breaks opposition rhythm quite regularly .This EPL hype however Garnacho yet impress tbh. He does has talent but he yet to prove tbh. Him and Soule was our option at the moment but they ain’t living up to but still has time and there are few more coming in wide area so let’s see

      • Garnacho has been embarrassingly average and I doubt whether he will improve. Even his idol Cr7 at age of 20 was ridiculously good, such that garnacho is no where near that level. Let’s not even mention about Messi coz his level is untouchable.
        Talking of the midfield Scaloni needs to bring this boy Alan Varela.

    • Redondo , will never play for the national team! He is down right mediocre which is why he went to MLS , even Saudi didn’t want him!

  6. Messi was all serious, pissed and not happy when the game started and then the smile came when he scored and the way he scored going to the tight angle instead of going the other post was ridiculous and then the shower of goals came and poor Bolivia didn’t know which way was up after that BUT, BUT they played a clean game and didn’t try anything stupid.
    All players were rushing to defend whenever there was a HINT of counter attack or clear shots, nm flying and spreading out to attack as soon as there was a chance to do so.
    Colombia scored 4 and ARGENTINA responded with 6 to widen the gap in points and goals.
    Bolivia has been playing very well and for them to be completely dominated was a thing of beauty.
    EVEYBODY PLAYED GREAT, I hope they move forward without further incidents and continue to dominate and win and for all the haters to keep crying.

    • Keep on crying ” cry is my destiano ” and haters too. VAMOS ALBICELESTE🇦🇷 Y LA PULGA 37+⚽️⚽️⚽️✌️🇦🇷🫶🇦🇷as everybody truly played great🇦🇷🙌🇦🇷perfect game in every possible ways for🇦🇷really happy for ”young guns” too🇦🇷Paz was exxelent and Almada scored⚽️🇦🇷

  7. So happy for nico paz I hope he stays injury free plus I can’t to see thiago almada aka mls fraud to move lyon in January 2025 I believe he will be mainstay in the selection from now. Scaloni need to give more playing minutes for palacios because enzo and de Paul are not performing well for thier clubs and the nt enzo was really bad last nigh his passes were really bad

    • I said it early this year, Enzo Fernandez club’s form will affect his performance at national level. At Copa America he had dismal performance against tough teams like Ecuador & Colombia. If Scaloni had to drop Paredes in the world cup, it’s high time he give chances to other better performing players.

  8. Messi is a genius, greatest of all time.

    Paz reminds me of Pastore, but a left footed one and on steroids. I mean, the best, most promising version of Pastore in his early Huracan and Palermo days but probably even better. He’s a tall kid too and has everything to turn into a midfield menace.

    • I think he is good with headers too, due to his height and really skillfull player and he does remind a bit Pastore, but as u said most propably better, just hope will stay fit and now he is in good place with Como and Cesc as coach, though he is Still relatively young coach, but might become a very good one as coach…

      Love the comments from MESSI as he just, put aside his EXTRAORDINARIO performance of his own and instead kept praising Paz, Almada and Carboni….

      MESSI NOT ONLY GOAT, BUT THE WISEST TOO!
      37+ INCREDIBLE!
      Alvarez played so good too!
      Whole team and coaching at their best!
      Molina too! And important one for him! Hopefully Cholo give’s him time to play more!

    • he really does, pastore is now a free agent sadly. one of the most talented argentina players ive ever seen right up there with paulo.

      i mean he was lanky, tall, had insanely quick feet, a good sense of attack, but lacked the consistent fitness and honestly the drive to stay at the top level.

        • Yes maybe should had stayed in Italy, but obviously understand, that there were big differences between salaries with Palermo and PSG,but as said besides few really good games in PSG shirt (with Lavezzi) everything sadly went downhill….

          A bit like “ Coco” Lamela’s” story, when he left Roma for Spurs…

  9. To criticize messi is not accepted in any Argentine fan Forum. A player cannot give more than him what he have given us and giving continuously in his career. And as for Scalony same quotation is used till date. We do ask the people who always try to spread negative things about Argentina football team please leave our forum.

    • He is too wise to decide yet as his inteligence on and off the pitch too are BEYOND!
      He has given everything and keep’s doing so as long as he can or his body will let him…great to see him enjoying and happy as he is truly someone who deserves it!

  11. Is there any uncalled for record or persecutions we fans had endured that Scaloni failed to reverse or offset it?

    02 consequative copa losses, Maradona’s abysmally conceding 06 vs Bolivia, Finallissima (Fifa confederation loss vs Brazil), and of course WC trophy. And yet some key board coaches are not happy about him.

    Even Messi’s last 02 Balond’ors are highly linked to his performance at NT level-copa 21 and Quatar22. I don’t remember a single balond’or winner to claim 02 Balond’ors excelling at NT achievements. Sabella had an edge in maximizing Messi talent at NT till Scloni emerged. Let’ give credit when it is due to the most underrated coach. Finally only dumpasses possess the audacity to question Leo-The GOAT of football.

  12. Watching Paz play brings back memories of Zidane in his prime. His effortless yet graceful touches, exceptional ball control, and dribbling skills are reminiscent of the legend. He’s daring in his playmaking and passes. With the right support, this guy can surely unlock any defense. We’ve got a true gem for the future !

      • More like left footed prime Pastore, Kakà was a speedster, Paz speed is ok but not super fast. U15 ex Boca/Juventus playmaker Francisco Barido seems the exact same player as Nico Paz. youtu.be/qOHzJUVqb8A?si=MTiXcXr1MMEHPnBp

  13. Messi answered all those who was just not criticizing but simply hating on him recently even in this forum. It’s so dissapointing to see such criticism even after giving so much to Argentina football.

  14. I think we have talented players in each position. Only we need a world class winger who can replace Di maria. Even I would not be surprised if di maria breaks his retirement and come back.

  16. Did you see how Argentina played? I liked the way the players actively ran into the penalty area to look for scoring opportunities.

    • Exactly the way they crushed Chile. However, this pressing display was missing against Colombia and Venezuela. Anyway, conditions were abysmal in Venezuela. Hope the team continues with this form in November.

          • Yes ref was terrible indeed, they had the advantage from conditions + the ref did certainly not help….also home crowd behind and everyone wanting only ARG to loose…a draw would had been fair, but maybe sometime’s it is good to loose and also face all kind crazy scenarios…whether due to conditions, hostile crowd, terrible ref’s or what so ever, well i think specially as younger player u can learn a lot from all these kind of situations and sometime’s even the more elder players develop even more mentally as more old they grow as obviously due to experience they have normally an advantage over younger player as mentally, but surely there are younger players who are mentally more stronger than other’s with kind of same age….also all these crazy things, that can happen must be very important for coaching too even sometime’s it will be difficult to response during the game, but after it will be something good to think of etc…

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