Lionel Messi becomes first-ever player to captain in three FIFA World Cup finals
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Messi is set to play in his third World Cup final.
There is a chapter in Lionel Messi’s career that was meant to end in misery.
The 2014 final defeat to Germany. Copa América near misses. The unfulfilled retirement.
Then came Qatar 2022, where he finally lifted the lone prize missing from an otherwise ludicrous collection. He has now achieved something unprecedented in football history: he has led his country to three World Cup finals.
Lionel Messi to captain Argentina in his third FIFA World Cup final
Lionel Messi is going to captain Argentina against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. He has previously worn the armband in the 2014 final against Germany and the 2022 final against France.
Three finals. Three captaincy appearances. No individual else in the sport’s history has a CV that includes that line.
For comparison, Cafu, a Brazilian right-back widely considered one of the best in his position, competed in three World Cup finals: 1994, 1998, and 2002.
He achieved that amount. However, he did not captain Brazil in all three matches. The captaincy distinction is what distinguishes Messi’s record from other such pieces of history.
Other players to captain their national team in the World Cup more than once
However, besides him, there are four players to captain their respective national teams to two World Cup finals:
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany) – 1982 & 1986 – both losses
Diego Maradona (Argentina) – 1986 (Win) & 1990 (Loss)
Dunga (Brazil) – 1994 (Win) & 1998 (Loss)
Hugo Lloris (France) – 2018 (Win) & 2022 (Loss).
Messi is 39 years old for the 2026 final event. At 39 years old, guiding your nation to a World Cup final is not only outstanding, but also almost unbelievable.
In which FIFA World Cup finals has Lionel Messi captained Argentina?
In 2014 and 2022. He is also set to captain Argentina in the 2026 final versus Spain, which will be his third final.
How many FIFA World Cups has Lionel Messi won?
He has only one World Cup.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.