Messi's Unique Jersey at the 2026 World Cup
Argentina legend Lionel Messi is wearing a shirt different from his teammates at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Inter Miami star, competing in his sixth Mundial, sports special sleeve badges that recognize his historic achievements in the tournament.
FIFA introduced series of special sleeve badges to honor players for their accomplishments throughout the tournament in North America. Messi wears a "Legacy" patch, reserved for players who have featured in five or more World Cups, and a Golden Ball patch, given to those who have previously won the award for the tournament's best player.
Record-Breaking Performance
Messi once again grabbed the headlines after scoring a brace in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in a Group J match at Dallas Stadium on Monday, June 22. The Barcelona legend further cemented his place among football's all-time greats by becoming the leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.
The 38-year-old found the net in both halves to take his World Cup tally to 18 goals, moving two clear of former Germany striker Miroslav Klose. Messi’s latest milestone came after a dramatic moment in Dallas, where he initially missed a penalty that could have handed him the record earlier in the match.
Tournament Leading Scorer
The former Paris Saint-Germain star is also the tournament's leading scorer so far, having netted a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina's opening match. Messi is now aiming to win back-to-back World Cup titles after leading Argentina to glory at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where they defeated France in the final on penalties.
Special FIFA Patches
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is the only player in history to have won the World Cup Golden Ball twice, having received the honour in both 2014 and 2022. Messi joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Yuto Nagatomo and Manuel Neuer among the players recognised with special FIFA patches at this year's World Cup.
Messi's World Cup Journey
Lionel Messi first announced himself on the World Cup stage in 2006 when he made his tournament debut as a teenager. He became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup and marked the occasion by scoring against Serbia and Montenegro in his first tournament appearance.
Messi eventually achieved his lifelong dream by winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022, completing football's most coveted prize and adding it to an already glittering collection of honours at club and international level. The Argentine icon has also won the Olympic gold medal, the Copa América, the UEFA Champions League, and numerous domestic titles, cementing his status as one of the most decorated players in football history.
