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Scoring in six consecutive FIFA World Cup™ appearances is a feat so rare, so staggeringly difficult, that only three mortals in the entire history of the beautiful game have ever accomplished it! Just Fontaine, Jairzinho, and now Lionel Messi stand alone in this exclusive pantheon of relentless goal-getters, each crafting a streak that defies logic and sends shivers down the spines of defenders worldwide. Fontaine's legendary rampage at Sweden 1958 remains one of the most astonishing individual tournaments ever witnessed: 13 goals in just six appearances, including a staggering four-goal salvo against West Germany and a hat-trick against Paraguay. The Frenchman averaged an almost incomprehensible 2.17 goals per game during that run, a figure that may never be eclipsed. Jairzinho, meanwhile, etched his name into immortality at Mexico 1970, finding the net in every single match of Brazil's glorious campaign, from the group-stage demolition of Czechoslovakia to the final triumph over Italy. His streak of seven goals across six appearances powered the Selecao to their third world crown and cemented his status as one of the tournament's most iconic figures. Now, Messi has added his name to this hallowed list with a streak that remains very much alive at the 2026 edition. The Argentine wizard has struck in six successive outings, beginning with his solitary effort against Australia at Qatar 2022 and continuing through the Netherlands, Croatia, the final against France, and into the current tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace versus Austria. Ten goals across those six appearances at a rate of 1.67 per game underscore the sheer dominance of a player who continues to rewrite the record books at 38 years of age. Behind this elite trio, a cluster of legends including Gerd Muller, Eusebio, Leonidas, Careca, Teofilo Cubillas, Helmut Rahm, Lajos Tichy, James Rodriguez, Gyorgy Sarosi, Hristo Stoichkov, Rivaldo, and Toto Schillaci all reached five consecutive scoring appearances, but none could push beyond that threshold. The question now hanging over the tournament is tantalizing: can Messi extend his streak even further and claim this record outright?
