Argentina forward Lionel Messi finished the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign in South America as the top scorer, statistical company Opta reports.
The 38-year-old striker scored eight goals, the highest total among all players in the region’s qualifiers. However, this is also the fewest goals for a South American qualifying top scorer since 1996, when the tournament began in its modern format.
Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay earned direct spots at the World Cup after the qualifiers. Bolivia will contest a place through playoffs, while Venezuela, Peru and Chile failed to qualify for the tournament.
The World Cup will be held from June 11 until July 19, 2026, in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
