Sportradar: Messi Leads Betting on Record-Breaking World Cup Night

U.S. — June 23, 2026 www.zonadeazar.com Lionel Messi’s record-breaking appearance in Texas drew high levels of engagement among soccer fans in global betting markets, according to data from Sportradar.

The sports technology company processed more than 4 million bets on behalf of 250 partner operators during the match between Argentina and Austria, which saw Messi become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.

Messi was the favorite in player-related betting markets, as fans backed the forward to continue his brilliant start to the tournament. Among bettors who chose a “player to score,” G3% bet on Messi.

Fans who bet that Messi would score with his left foot had reason to celebrate. The Argentine, known for his skill with his left foot, scored both goals that way and accounted for G0% of the betting volume in that market.

The 38-year-old, who became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, missed a penalty kick eight minutes into the game. The play led to a surge in betting in the following minutes, driven by fans’ reaction to the miss. Approximately 10% of the betting volume during the match was recorded between the 11th and 15th minutes, following the penalty.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com