Lionel Messi World Cup Props: Aging Star Still Has Value In Several Betting Markets

The 2026 World Cup is right around the corner, and we still don’t know if Lionel Messi is going to officially play, but that isn’t stopping online sportsbooks from posting Lionel Messi World Cup props in anticipation of the living legend participating.

In reality, Messi doesn’t need to suit up for his sixth World Cup with Argentina. He’s already won the sport’s ultimate prize after guiding Argentina to a third World Cup title in 2022 in what was viewed as the perfect ending for Messi’s international career. The World Cup was the last major title missing from his illustrious trophy case.

But there’s an absence of panic at the Argentina football federation that suggests that Messi is going to feature at the tournament. With the World Cup taking place in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico, it would be shocking if he didn’t play at a tournament hosted in the continent he’s called home since joining Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami in 2023.

Although expectations won’t be as high as in 2022 when he carried Argentina to a memorable triumph in Qatar, there are several betting markets that offer value if Messi can turn back the clock and deliver some vintage performances.

Here’s a break down of the best Lionel Messi World Cup props: 

Odds to win another World Cup +800

Argentina’s odds to win the World Cup are a good indicator that bookmakers expect the icon to play in North America.

Four years after an emotional triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina trails only the world’s elite in the odds race after being given +800 odds to repeat as the World Cup champion, behind favourites Spain (+450), France (+500), England (+600), and Brazil (+800). 

The country is in safe hands with bonafide stars, such as Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Enzo Fernandez, as Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni will have one of the most talented squads at this year’s World Cup. But it’s unlikely Argentina is a top-five favourite to win the 2026 World Cup if bookies thought Messi wasn’t going to play. That’s how much influence he still carries.

Golden Boot (Top scorer) +1200

There’s been a significant shift in Messi’s odds market for the top World Cup scorer, correlating with the playmaker’s evolving role with the national team. No longer the primary attacking focus in a squad with world-class strikers, Argentina has grown to depend on the 38-year-old’s vision and ability to act as a provider in the twilight of his career.

As such, the odds for him to win the Golden Boot award as the World Cup’s top scorer have lengthened now that Messi is used in deeper positions to help with the build-up play.

In 2022, Messi was designated as the joint favourite along with eventual winner Kylian Mbappe to capture the Golden Boot, which he narrowly lost by one goal after scoring seven times in seven games. In 2026, Messi’s +1200 odds trail Mbappe (+700)  and England’s Harry Kane (+800).

Golden Ball (Best player) +1000

The Golden Boot might be unrealistic, but the +1000 odds for Lionel Messi to win the Golden Ball award as the World Cup’s top player could be a worthwhile wager.

If Argentina can engineer a deep tournament run—perhaps to the semifinals—then don’t be surprised if Messi starts to get serious consideration for the award, regardless of his statistical output. 

Given that the Golden Ball tends to be an award partly based on narrative, it would be hard to argue against Messi, who turns 39 in June, if Argentina goes far. At that point, all he’d have to do is have a decent tournament to be considered. While some would describe it as the perfect fairy-tale ending to his international career, the award’s subjective voting process could lead to a situation where another player with better stats misses out on the Golden Ball.

World Cup assists leader +1200

Like the Golden Boot, Messi also has +1200 odds to finish the 2026 World Cup as the leader in assists. But, as highlighted before, there’s more value in wagering on Messi the provider than Messi the scorer.

Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne leads the assists odds at +800, but Messi could have the edge with a deep run into the knockout rounds. Messi remains a focal point for Argentina, but his role in recent years has involved developing close relationships with younger forwards. This has led to better chemistry and increased cohesion within a group that cruised through qualifying.

And since the World Cup expanded to 48 teams, there could be opportunities for Messi to inflate his stats against weaker teams in the group stage. Argentina takes on Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in Group J.

For the short-term, there’s at least one milestone that shouldn’t be difficult to achieve. After Messi became the first player to record an assist at five different World Cups in 2022, he has -200 odds to add to his record and provide an assist in six World Cups.

Break World Cup’s all-time scoring record

Speaking of milestones, Messi is on the cusp of matching arguably the biggest individual World Cup record. With 13 goals in 26 World Cup games, Messi is just three behind the all-time scoring record of 16, set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose in 2014.

Scoring four goals to beat Klose’s record might seem unreasonable for a player in his late 30s. But it’s never wise to overlook a generational talent like Messi.

It’s all going to depend on Argentina’s success. If Argentina makes it to the semifinals, Messi (if fit) will have seven games to add to his goal haul. If he can record some early goals in the group stage, finishing the tournament with four goals is totally plausible in a world where Argentina advances to the later stages of the World Cup.

Match props

There will be plenty of other opportunities to bet on Messi once the World Cup kicks off. There are multiple match performance props that bettors will likely target when the World Cup gets closer.

Shots on target is one area that often leads to success. But, if the line offered is 1.5, it might be wise to hit the under. Although he’s averaging over two shots per game this season with Inter Miami, his deep-lying role with the national team suggests that his shot output will decrease at the World Cup.

The anytime goal-scorer market for Messi is often too tempting to resist. And, although we’re expecting more assists at this World Cup, expect the Messi anytime goal line to sit around +110 to +150 this summer.