Latin America Sports Daily for Tuesday, June 23, 2026

01

The 38th minute, a left foot, and the record that belongs to football’s greatest player

World Cup

It almost did not happen that way. Nine minutes into the game, Messi stepped up to take a penalty and put it wide right: a stuttered run-up, a shot that went nowhere near the corner, and 70,649 people at AT&T Stadium going very quiet.

He spent the next 29 minutes making everyone forget that moment.

In the 38th minute, Facundo Medina played him the pass; Messi hit it first time, left foot, bottom-left corner: the 17th World Cup goal, the record.

It was the 17th goal of his World Cup career, one more than Miroslav Klose had scored across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. Messi had done it in six, spread across 20 years, the last of them at 38 years old.

The stadium knew it. The Messi chants that had been building since the warmup became something else entirely at that moment, not the expectant noise of a crowd waiting for something to happen, but the sound of people recognising they were watching something permanent.

He added the 18th in the 90th minute of stoppage time. Julián Álvarez drove forward, his shot was saved by Schlager, and the rebound dropped to Messi, who finished at the second attempt.

Argentina won 2-0. They are Group J winners with six points.

Cuti Romero, Argentina’s starting centre-back, was taken off during the second half with a knee problem. Scaloni said the medical team would complete tests before the extent of the injury is known, a note of concern behind a remarkable day.

Messi turns 39 on Thursday and now holds the record alone: 18 World Cup goals in six tournaments, the greatest scorer in the history of the competition.

02

Eighteen goals across six World Cups — and the records that went with them

World Cup

Messi’s 18 World Cup goals now lead the all-time list for men’s and women’s football combined. Brazil’s Marta held the women’s record with 17; the overall record now belongs to Argentina’s number ten.

Among men, Miroslav Klose’s 16 goals, set across Germany’s campaigns from 2002 to 2014, had stood for 12 years. Klose scored his record-tying 16th goal in the 2014 World Cup semi-final against Brazil, the game that ended 7-1 in Belo Horizonte, and his record-breaking goal in the 2014 final against Argentina, the game Germany won 1-0.

The irony is complete: the record was built partly against Argentina, and it was an Argentine who finally broke it.

June 22, 1986 was the Maradona day; June 22, 2026, forty years later, was Messi’s. Argentine football will hold them together.

Messi now has 5 goals in 2 games at this World Cup; Mbappé scored his 15th against Iraq on Monday. At 27, three goals behind, Mbappé will chase the record in 2030.

03

Colombia vs DR Congo tonight — a win in Guadalajara puts them through

World Cup

Colombia lead Group K with three points after beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in their opener; tonight in Guadalajara at 9pm ET they face DR Congo, who drew 1-1 with Portugal.

A Colombia win takes them to six points and effectively secures their knockout-stage place regardless of what Portugal do in their concurrent game against Uzbekistan in Houston.

DR Congo should not be underestimated; they scored their first-ever World Cup goal against Portugal through Wissa’s header and their defensive block held Portugal’s possession game at bay for long stretches.

Colombia’s advantage is significant: Luis Díaz is fit, James Rodríguez is available and sharp after a quiet but effective opener against Uzbekistan, and Néstor Lorenzo’s tactical preparation for DR Congo has had a full week of focus. The supporting cast is also strong; Jefferson Lerma anchors midfield, Cucho Hernández provides energy off the bench.

James Rodríguez played his ninth World Cup game against Uzbekistan, drawing level with Juan Cuadrado and David Ospina as Colombia’s joint third-most capped players in the tournament. His tenth tonight, if he starts, puts him in the company of Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón.

04

Brazil on Friday, Ecuador and Paraguay on Saturday — the final group games close in

World Cup

Friday June 24: Brazil vs Scotland (Miami, 9pm ET)

Brazil are top of Group C; Scotland must win to advance. Neymar is available for selection; this is his last realistic chance to play at this World Cup.

Saturday June 25: Ecuador vs Germany (New Jersey) and Paraguay vs Australia

Ecuador need to beat Germany, who are already through and may rotate; Paraguay face Australia needing a win to keep alive their third-placed team qualification bid.

Sunday June 26: Uruguay vs Spain (Guadalajara) and Uruguay’s Araujo/De Arrascaeta fitness

Uruguay must beat Spain on June 26 to advance from Group H. The fitness of Ronald Araújo and De Arrascaeta remains the central question; both have missed Uruguay’s two group games so far and their availability would change what Bielsa can do against a Spain side now full of confidence after the 4-0 Saudi Arabia win.

05

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

How did Messi break the World Cup scoring record?

Messi scored twice against Austria in Argentina’s 2-0 win at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on June 22. After missing a penalty in the 9th minute, he hit a left-footed one-timer from a Facundo Medina pass in the 38th minute: the record-breaking 17th World Cup goal.

He added his 18th in stoppage time from a rebound off an Álvarez shot. Messi now leads all-time World Cup scoring for men and women combined, surpassing Brazil’s Marta (17 Women’s World Cup goals); his 18 goals span six tournaments from 2006 to 2026.

What is the significance of June 22 for Argentina?

June 22, 1986 was the day Diego Maradona scored both the Hand of God and the Goal of the Century against England in the World Cup quarter-final in Mexico City, two of the most famous goals in the history of football, in the same game.

June 22, 2026, forty years later, was the day Messi became the greatest scorer in World Cup history. Messi was tearful after his first Algeria goal; it emerged his father is recovering from a health issue, making Dallas even more personal.

Can Kylian Mbappé still break Messi’s record?

Not at this World Cup; Mbappé is on 15 goals, three behind Messi’s 18. He would need four goals in the remaining games to match the record.

The realistic window is 2030; at 27 with 15 goals in 17 appearances (0.88 per game vs Messi’s 0.64 across 28), Mbappé’s rate gives him a genuine shot. The race continues into the next chapter.