By Opta Analyst | Created at 2026-06-17 00:21:37 | Updated at 2026-06-17 01:57:34
1 hour ago
The Argentina captain reaches a massive milestone as he takes to the field against Algeria, 20 years on from his FIFA World Cup debut in Germany.
After being named in Argentina’s starting XI to face Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi has become the first player to represent his country in six separate men’s World Cup tournaments.
The milestone comes exactly 20 years after Messi made his World Cup debut against Serbia-Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen in 2006, when he came off the bench to score Argentina’s final goal in a 6-0 win.
Cristiano Ronaldo will also have played in six tournaments if he makes an appearance for Portugal in 2026Messi went unbeaten in his first seven World Cup matches, with his first loss coming in the quarter-final of the 2010 World Cup against Germany. He is currently on a six-game unbeaten run after Argentina emerged victorious in the 2022 World Cup.
The game against Algeria also coincides with Messi’s 200th cap for his country. Since making his debut for the national team in a friendly against Hungary in 2005, he has registered 173 goal contributions in his 199 appearances for Argentina before today. Of those, 117 have been goals, including 92 from open play, while he has scored 10 hat-tricks for his country.
Unsurprisingly, Messi’s impact has extended to the biggest stage in world football. Ahead of kick-off against Algeria, his 13 goals are three off the all-time record (currently held by Miroslav Klose) and Messi could conceivably equal that tally during this tournament. Those strikes have come in 26 World Cup appearances, which is a record number in World Cup finals.
Messi’s creative stats are similarly impressive. He has created 74 chances at World Cup tournaments, more than any other player, while his eight assists are only matched by another Argentine legend, Diego Maradona.
Interestingly, Messi also has a history with Algeria. In their only previous meeting, an international friendly in 2007, he scored a brace, his first in international football, which secured a 4-3 victory for Argentina.
Messi will likely not solely hold this record for long, as his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo will also appear at his sixth separate World Cup if he takes to the field for Portugal at any point in North America.
Earlier in the tournament, Germany’s Manuel Neuer appeared at his fifth different World Cup, equalling Mexican trio Andrés Guardado, Antonio Carbajal, and Rafael Márquez, as well as German legend Lothar Matthäus.
*All stats are accurate before Argentina’s match with Algeria on 16 June.
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