The 1970 World Cup in Mexico belonged to Brazil, but within that golden squad Jairzinho carved out a record that remains almost mythical. The flying winger scored in every single match, six consecutive appearances from the group stage through the final, finding the net against England, Romania, Peru and Italy among others. His seven goals powered a team widely regarded as the greatest ever assembled, and his streak became the benchmark for sustained brilliance on the biggest stage. Alongside Pele, Tostao, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho was the relentless finisher who turned Brazil’s flowing attacks into decisive blows. Now, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Lionel Messi has matched that six-game scoring sequence. After netting in every match since the 2022 final, including a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria, the Argentine has joined Jairzinho and Just Fontaine in one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs. The eras could hardly be more different: Jairzinho terrorised defences with raw pace and power on sun-baked Mexican pitches, while Messi manipulates space and time in modern North American arenas. Yet both players understood that a World Cup is won in increments, one decisive moment at a time. As Messi seeks to turn his streak into a second straight title, Jairzinho’s ghost rides with him, proof that history rewards those who refuse to leave a tournament quiet. The 1970 Brazilian used his run to help secure a third crown for his country; Messi now hopes his scoring sequence will carry Argentina to a fourth star and a second consecutive championship. The names on the record list are separated by fifty-six years, two continents and radically different styles, but they share a single truth: when the world gathers to watch the game at its highest level, the great ones find a way to matter in every single match. That is the standard Messi is chasing, and it may be the most difficult record of all.