Messi breaks Maradona's World Cup assist record
Lionel Messi helped Argentina overcome Egypt in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16, setting a new statistical milestone.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Voltmetro
In a dramatic 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match, Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 after extra time. The 39-year-old captain Lionel Messi was the main architect of the victory, contributing to most of the game's key moments.
Messi scored a goal and provided the assist for Cristian Romero on the 83rd minute. Despite missing a penalty early in the game, he remained the pivotal figure on the pitch. This assist was his ninth in World Cup history, allowing him to surpass the legendary Diego Maradona, who holds eight (with records dating back to 1966).
Beyond the assist record, Messi matched another of Maradona's achievements regarding individual performance in a single World Cup match. Against Egypt, Lionel recorded over five successful dribbles and created over five goal-scoring chances. Diego Armando Maradona produced similar numbers in 1986 during a match against Belgium.