What records Lionel Messi can break in 2026 FIFA World Cup?
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Lionel Messi is likely to play his last World Cup this summer.
Making history has become the captain of the world champions’ career. For a normal person, this year’s World Cup would likely be his last as he turns 39 in June.
Even though Lionel Messi is a fantastic football player, the 2026 World Cup may be the final international tournament for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Argentina captain.
As he guides Argentina’s World Cup defence in the US, Canada, and Mexico this summer, Lionel Messi has the potential to shatter these records.
Records Messi can shatter at the 2026 World Cup
3. First captain to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cups
Argentina have given itself the chance to become the third side in World Cup history to win the trophy in consecutive competitions. Only Italy and Brazil have maintained this record.
Under Vittorio Pozzo, the Azzurri won the second and third World Cups; however, Virginio Rosetta, the captain in 1934, was replaced in 1938 by Giuseppe Meazza.
Hilderaldo Bellini was Brazil’s captain in 1958. He was a member of the team that won the championship in 1962, but defender Mauro Ramos led the team in Chile.
Lionel Messi is expected to lead the national squad in this World Cup.
2. All-time scorer at the World Cup
The Argentina captain is so prolific that it seems ridiculous that he wouldn’t achieve the four goals necessary to surpass Germany’s Miroslav Klose and become the greatest scorer of the World Cup.
Lionel Messi is three goals behind Klose and tied with World Cup 1958 Golden Boot winner Just Fontaine with 13 goals in five competitions.
1. Oldest player to score in World Cup final
The famous Niels Liedholm is the oldest goal scorer in the World Cup final. In 1962, the legendary AC Milan player was 35 years and 264 days when Brazil defeated Sweden in the championship match. Lionel Messi will set yet another record if Argentina advance to consecutive finals and he scores.
Will Lionel Messi play in the 2026 World Cup?
So far, he is likely to play in the competition.
Which group are Argentina in?
They are in Group J.
When is their first game?
It’s on June 17.
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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.