<P> Lionel Messi is an association football forward in the Argentina national football team . Since debuting for Argentina in 2005, Messi has scored 65 goals in 128 international appearances, making him the country's all - time top scorer, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta's record, with a free kick against United States in the semi-final of Copa América Centenario on 21 June 2016 . He made his debut for Argentina in a 2--1 away win over Hungary on 17 August 2005 . He scored his first international goal a year later in his sixth appearance for his country against Croatia . </P> <P> Messi's goal against Serbia and Montenegro, on 16 June 2006, made him the youngest - ever scorer for Argentina at a FIFA World Cup when he was 18 years and 357 days old . He has scored six international hat - tricks, and has netted twice in a match (also known as a brace) on eleven occasions . Messi has scored more times against Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Uruguay and Ecuador than any other team, with four goals against each one of them . </P> <P> Messi has scored 21 goals in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, making him the all - time top scorer of the qualification in CONMEBOL, along with his Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez . He has scored eight goals in Copa América, leading his team to the final of the tournament in 2007, 2015, and 2016, each time finishing as a runner - up . At the 2015 tournament, he allegedly rejected the Best Player award and the trophy was omitted from the ceremony . He has scored six times in the FIFA World Cup tournaments, once in 2006, four times in 2014, when he guided his team to the final and was awarded the Golden Ball, and once in the 2018 World Cup finals . The remainder of Messi's goals, 30, have come in friendlies . </P> <Dl> <Dd> As of match played on 26 June 2018 </Dd> <Dd> Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Messi goal . </Dd> </Dl>

Goals scored by messi in 2018 world cup