Prepared with a comprehensive summary of the news. Lionel Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Holding the record for the most World Cup matches played with 26 appearances, Messi is also the only player to have won the Golden Ball award in two separate tournaments. Under the guidance of coach Lionel Scaloni, the Argentine team, along with Messi, is preparing to defend their 2026 World Cup title. Kathmandu, May 25. Among the most successful and influential footballers in history is Argentine striker Lionel Messi. Renowned for his outstanding dribbling skills, Messi effortlessly outmaneuvers opponents even in tight spaces. Not only a prolific goal scorer, he also ranks among the top assist providers. He has been honoured eight times with FIFA’s best player award, ‘The Best.’
Spending 17 seasons at Spain’s FC Barcelona, Messi helped the club secure 34 titles. He then transferred to French club Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the Ligue 1 title twice consecutively. At American club Inter Miami, Messi made history by winning the club’s first ever MLS Cup, bringing his total club-level trophies to 40. His trophy cabinet also includes the FIFA World Cup, Olympic men’s football gold, UEFA, and Copa America titles among others. At 35 years old, Messi led Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.
During his childhood, Messi suffered from growth hormone deficiency. When he went for a trial at FC Barcelona at age 13, he was only 4 feet 6 inches tall. Former defender Gerard Piqué recalled, “We had decided to reject him until he touched the ball. But as soon as he started controlling the ball, all doubts disappeared.” Initially, Barcelona officials hesitated to sign him due to his physical condition and the cost of treatment. However, club technical director Charly Rexach famously signed Messi on a paper napkin, an iconic moment in football history.
Messi is the only player to provide assists in five different World Cup tournaments. Additionally, he shares the record for most assists in the knockout stages, with six assists, tied with Pelé. He holds the record for the most World Cup appearances with 26 matches played. After the 2022 World Cup final, Messi set a new record for the most minutes played in the tournament, with 2,314 minutes, surpassing Paolo Maldini. He has captained Argentina in 19 World Cup matches. Remarkably, Messi is the only player to have scored in every stage from the group phase to the final in a single World Cup, achieving this feat in the 2022 Qatar tournament.
With a combined total of 21 goals and assists in World Cup history, Messi shares the joint highest number with Pelé. He has been awarded the Player of the Match 11 times at World Cups. Messi is one of Argentina’s all-time highest World Cup goal scorers, with 13 goals. He is also the sole player to have won two World Cup Golden Balls. Messi’s World Cup journey began memorably at his first tournament when he played 15 minutes as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, scoring one goal and providing an assist.
However, he was benched in the quarterfinal against Germany, and Argentina lost in a penalty shootout. In the 2014 World Cup, Messi amazed the world with excellent dribbling and stunning goals, winning the Golden Ball, although Argentina was defeated in the final. Argentina was eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup but won the 2022 World Cup title. Messi not only helped secure the title but also scored seven goals throughout the tournament, earning the Golden Ball award once again.
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Argentina and Messi aspire to break a 62-year-old tradition, as no team has won back-to-back World Cups in the last six decades. As the reigning champions, Argentina aims to extend this legacy. Coach Lionel Scaloni, who led the team to 2022 glory, will continue to manage the squad. Messi’s dribbling and goal-scoring abilities will certainly pose a challenge for opposing defenses. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez provides confidence at the posts, while Cristian Romero leads the defense with strength. Midfielder Enzo Fernández, who won the Young Player award in the last tournament, has developed into an impressive talent, supported by Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister. Upfront, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez serve as Argentina’s world-class strikers. Emerging youngsters Thiago Almada, Nico Paz, and Franco Maestri add creativity and fresh energy to the team. For these reasons, Argentina is widely regarded as one of the top contenders to win the World Cup again.
