Records that belong to Lionel Messi tend to stay that way for a long time. Leandro Trossard, apparently, did not get the memo.
The Arsenal winger has created 17 chances from open play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, matching the single-tournament record that Messi set during Argentina’s title-winning campaign in Qatar in 2022. According to data tracked by Opta and referenced by Squawka in early July 2026, Trossard sits at the top of the tournament’s chance-creation leaderboard, with every single one of those opportunities generated through open play, no set pieces padding the stat.
Who is leading the pack
Trossard is not just nudging past the competition. He has created 17 chances while Mohamed Salah, the next closest player, sits at 16. Messi himself is tracking around 15 in the 2026 tournament, meaning the man whose record Trossard equaled is now watching from a rung below on the same leaderboard.
Trossard has also contributed two goals of his own, which means Belgium’s wide play is running through him on both ends of the attacking contribution spectrum.
