Lionel Messi Odds & Player Props for the 2026 World Cup

As we creep closer to the start of the 2026 World Cup, the matchups and rosters are crystallizing. All 48 sides had to submit their rosters by Monday. Therefore, we know who will be potentially on the pitch for each country when they get ready to start group play next week. Of course, that means that the betting odds are all out there as well. There are some questionable roster picks, injury concerns and plenty of big names ready to take the pitch.

One of those big names to watch for is arguably one of the most well known in the sport: Lionel Messi. Let’s take a look at Messi and some of the potential numbers that are out there ahead of the start of World Cup play.

Messi’s Status

He’s been dealing with a hamstring injury sustained May 24 with Inter Miami against Philadelphia in MLS action. While Argentina is in Kansas City as they prepare for World Cup play, Messi went through a workout on his own Monday. He’s one of several key players that are among the walking wounded at this stage. We stand just under two weeks out from Argentina’s first match of group play, which is June 16 against Algeria.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said this week that they plan to be cautious with Messi. That means that Messi likely doesn’t suit up, or plays extremely limited minutes, next week. The Albiceleste face Honduras on June 6 and Iceland June 9 in their final two friendly matches before World Cup play starts. Expectation is that Messi starts and plays in the match against Algeria.

Lionel Messi Odds

To Win the Golden Boot: +1600

To Lead Argentina in Goals: -105

We all know that this isn’t Messi’s first rodeo by any stretch of the imagination. This marks his sixth and, at age 38, likely final World Cup run. Messi finished second in the race for the Golden Boot in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He finished with seven goals in seven matches, leaving him one shy of France’s Kylian Mbappe. In his five World Cup runs, Messi has 13 goals and eight assists in 26 matches. With a pretty favorable trio of matches in Group J (Algeria, Austria and Jordan), he has the opportunity to be a force.

This squad is a much more veteran laden squad than the side Messi was part of in 2022. Thiago Almada, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are each capable of shouldering some of the scoring load for the Albiceleste. Messi could easily be used more as a facilitator as opposed to the focal point as a scoring threat.

As it stands, Messi owns the fourth-best odds to win the Golden Boot. He trails France’s Kylian Mbappe (+600), England’s Harry Kane (+700) and Norway’s Erling Haaland (+1400) in odds. Mbappe won the Golden Boot in Qatar in 2022, while Kane took the 2018 Golden Boot in Russia. This is Haaland’s first taste of World Cup play, though he did score 16 goals in eight qualifying matches for Norway. One has to wonder if Messi has enough in the tank to keep up with the other favorites.

Potential Records in Play for Messi

In addition to the production that Messi puts up, he is in line to potentially add his name several more times to the World Cup record books. He owns the World Cup record for appearances with 26, a number that increases with each match Argentina plays here. In addition, he stands three goals behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the most goals by an individual in World Cup play. Klose tallied 16 goals in four World Cup runs from 2002-2014.

Messi is tied with the legendary Pelé for the most contributions on goals in World Cup history. His 13 goals and eight assists give him a primary hand in 21 World Cup markers. In addition, his eight assists leave him one shy of Pelé for the most in history.