All of Lionel Messi’s international goals for Argentina

Lionel Messi has scored 112 goals so far for Argentina over the course of his glittering international career and is the highest scoring South American in men’s football history.

Since his first Argentina goal back in 2006 against Croatia, Messi has since gone on to break numerous goalscoring records whilst representing his country. Nobody has scored more goals for Argentina than Messi, who boasts more than double the number of goals managed by Gabriel Batistuta (55), Argentina’s second-highest goalscorer of all-time. Messi also also surpassed the likes of Sergio Aguero, Hernan Crespo and the late, great Diego Maradona.

Of his 112 goals, 13 have come at the FIFA World Cup, now an Argentinian record which began in the 2006 edition of the tournament with 18-year-old Messi scoring against Serbia and Montenegro in his first World Cup appearance. Now 37 years of age, Messi has also racked up 14 goals in the Copa America and boasts 10 international hat-tricks to his name.

But as Messi continues to add to his international goal tally, we look at how he has managed to record such incredible numbers for Argentina and analyse all his international goals.

Last updated on 19/11/24

BY YEAR

Messi’s best year in front of goal for Argentina came in 2022, when he scored 18 goals across all competitions.
Since his first international goal in 2006, Messi has recorded a double-figure number of goals in 2012 and also 2022.

BY COMPETITION

Over half of Messi’s 112 goals (61 in total) have been scored across competitive competitions whether they be qualification campaigns, the World Cup or the Copa America.
As it stands, the Argentinian has accumulated 27 goals across two major international tournaments in the Copa America and World Cup.

BY PITCH AREA

Messi has proven his potency inside the penalty area, with 68.8% of his international goals having been scored in that area of pitch (not including goals inside the 6-yard box).
26 of Messi's 112 goals were scored from outside the penalty area.

METHOD OF GOALS

As it stands, Messi is just one away from scoring 100 international goals with his left foot.
In total contrast to the 88.4% of goals Messi has scored with his left foot, only 1.8% of his international goals have been headers (2)

BY HALF

Whilst there is a fairly even spread between Messi's first-half and second-half goals, he does boast three more goals in the second period of games as opposed to the first.
Of his 112 goals for Argentina, only one has come during a period of extra time, that being in the 2022 World Cup final against France when Messi scored in the 108th minute to make it 3-2 (Argentina won on penalties after a 3-3 draw).

BY MINUTE

The numbers suggest that Messi's biggest goalscoring threat comes in the latter stages of a half, having scored 53 goals across the final 15 minutes of the first/second half (this includes stoppage time).
Post the hour-mark, Messi has racked up 44 goals, adding weight to the theory that he becomes more of a goal threat as opponents tire and his notoriously high fitness levels come into play.

NATIONS SCORED AGAINST

Messi has found the net against 38 nations across the world over the course of his international career so far.
Bolivia are the only nation to have conceded a double-figure number of goals at the hands of the Argentinian.

TOP ASSISTERS

Long-time teammate Angel Di Maria has assisted Messi the most number of times for Argentina across his career, setting up 11 Messi goals in total.
In total, 29 players have assisted Messi whilst playing for Argentina, but only five of those players have set him up more than four times.

GOALKEEPERS SCORED AGAINST

Messi has scored past 65 goalkeepers over the course of his international career, with four of those having conceded three or more goals when facing him.
The most notable of those goalkeepers would be former Barcelona teammate Claudio Bravo (long-time first-choice keeper for Chile) and former Uruguayan stopper Fernando Muslera, whilst Bolivian goalkeeper Carlos Lampe has conceded the most number of Messi goals across his international career (6)