Lionel Messi is the first player to score in EVERY World Cup round

Lionel Messi broke another football record when he completed the feat of scoring in every World Cup phase with his goal in Sunday’s final against France.

The 35-year-old attacker scored in the 23rd minute after Angel di Maria went down in the French box, with Messi making no mistake from the point when he sent goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way.

Messi started his sensational journey with a goal in the group stage against Mexico. Then he scored a third goal of the tournament in Argentina’s round of 16 win over Australia.

Lionel Messi became the eternal champion of the World Cup in Sunday’s final

Messi (middle)

The PSG star continued to shine with a goal against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals before adding to his tally in the South American nation’s 3-0 semi-final win over Croatia.

Messi then ended his remarkable journey against France on Sunday when he scored the opening goal in the World Cup final.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner also broke another record on Sunday when he became the all-time World Cup performer after starting XI in Sunday’s final against France in Qatar.

Argentina’s superstar captain Messi passed German world champion Lothar Matthäus in Sunday’s showdown in the Middle East, which marked his 26th appearance in a tournament.

Matthäus led Germany to glory in Italy 1990 after falling short in two previous finals. Messi will aim to put his last disappointment of 2014 behind when he plays his final World Cup tournament for the nation on Sunday.

Messi scored the first goal of the final and increased his tournament tally to six goals when he sent French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The world star’s 26th tournament appearance came at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium as the South American nation aims to clinch their first World Cup since 1986.