Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have done something no other footballers in history can claim. Messi recorded an assist in his sixth World Cup edition, while Ronaldo scored in his sixth, making them the only players to stretch signature statistical achievements across that many tournaments.
What actually happened
Ronaldo became the first player in history to score in six separate World Cups after netting twice against Uzbekistan in June 2026. His World Cup scoring timeline stretches back to 2006, covering two full decades of international tournament football.
Messi matched the feat in a different statistical category. He recorded an assist in his sixth World Cup edition, a milestone that no other player has reached.
The fan token angle
