Lionel Messi could reach new personal heights if he scores in Argentina's two upcoming friendly matches at the end of March. On March 23, Argentina will face Panama, and five days later, they will play against Curacao on home soil. Messi currently holds the record for scoring 98 goals for the national team. If he scores at least two goals in these matches, the 35-year-old striker will become the first Argentine player to achieve a three-digit goal tally. Even if he scores only one goal, Messi will surpass a milestone of 800 goals for all his club and country appearances. Alongside his 98 goals for Argentina, he has scored 672 goals for Barcelona and 29 goals for his current club, PSG.
Messi still leads the scoring charts for the national team, far ahead of the players behind him. Former striker Gabriel Batistuta is in second place with 56 goals, followed by Sergio Aguero (41 goals), Hernan Crespo (35 goals), and Diego Maradona (34 goals). The player who has come closest to Messi's record is Angel Di Maria, who ranks seventh with 28 goals. According to the World Football Statistics and History Association, as of March 18, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the all-time scoring charts with 828 goals, while Messi is in second place with 799 goals. Legendary Pele ranks third with 762 goals, and Romario, the best FIFA player in 1994, is in fourth place with 755 goals. The player closest to Messi in terms of current appearances is Robert Lewandowski, who ranks eleventh with 591 goals.
The friendly matches with Panama and Curacao are Argentina's first games since winning the 2022 World Cup. Coach Lionel Scaloni sees this as an opportunity to thank the fans, connect the players, and set new goals. Argentina will play in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers from September 2023 to September 2025. The finals will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In 2024, Argentina will participate in the Copa America in the United States. The team is the reigning champion of both tournaments. Messi scored seven goals in the 2022 World Cup, bringing his total tally to 13 goals after five World Cup editions, tying him for fourth place with Just Fontaine on the list of the highest scorers in the tournament's history. Messi also holds the record for playing in 26 World Cup matches.
