Records that Lionel Messi can break at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

The Argentinian star will be looking to get his hands on football's most prestigious trophy this time around

Lionel Messi could or may not be playing his final World Cup. It is understandable that many fans and pundits are rooting for Argentina to win the tournament, which will undoubtedly place him among Pele and Maradona. Argentina might be the favourites, but anything can come to pass in the World Cup.

The 35-year-old will be playing in his fifth World Cup. He has a purpose, which is to win the trophy. As it confers a different degree of desire and status in football. And Messi appears to be on a crusade, aside from the several records Messi is expected to set. We have listed them below.

• If Messi scores in this World Cup, he will become the fifth player in history to accomplish so, joining four other legends: Pele, Uwe Seeler, Miroslav Klose, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
• Lionel Messi is only the second player in Argentina's annals to have appeared 19 times in four FIFA World Cups, trailing only compatriot Diego Maradona by three matches. And it is almost certain that he will break his record in this World Cup.
• Lionel Messi has played in four World Cups and has scored six goals in all of them. He is only four goals shy of Argentina's all-time best goal-scorer in World Cups, Gabriel Batistuta.
• The 35-year-old has supplied five assists in four World Cups, behind only Maradona by three. This could be another accomplishment he can succeed if he delivers three more assists in this World Cup.
• If Argentina advances further in the competition, Messi will become the only player with the most appearances in the event, having featured in 19 matches throughout all editions, while Lothar Matthaus holds the record with 25.
• If Argentina go further in this tournament, Messi will become the player with the most World Cup minutes played, surpassing his current total of 1,624 minutes and Maldini's, who has a record of 2,217 minutes played.
• Messi's Argentina has won the most World Cup matches (12), trailing only Germany's 17 wins. If they make it to the quarter-finals, Messi will surpass Miroslav Klose.
• Lionel Messi has guided Argentina to 12 World Cup victories as a captain, and if he progresses to the quarter-finals this year, he will beat the record of Rafael Marquez, who now holds the record for most wins as a captain in the event.
• Messi and Ronaldo will join an elite group of players who have competed in five World Cups. Ronaldo (06-22), Messi (06-22).
• The longest gap between the first and last World Cup goals. There are 11 players with a 12-year gap between their first and last World Cup goals. Messi and Ronaldo might become the first players to score World Cup goals 16 years apart! Because the World Cup was moved to the winter, this record may never be broken.
• The longest gap between first and last World Cup appearances Similarly, nine players have a 16-year gap between their first and latest World Cup appearances. However, because the World Cup has been moved to the winter, Messi and Ronaldo will exceed them all next week.