2026 World Cup: Lionel Messi continues to write football history with a new record

Lionel Messi pushes the boundaries of legend even further. Already holder of numerous World Cup records (top scorer 20 goals and top assist provider 9), the captain of Argentina has written a new page in his immense career by becoming the player with the most appearances in the history of the competition.

Starting in Argentina's 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the round of 32, the Argentine maestro played his 30th World Cup match. This unprecedented achievement allows him to surpass all other players who have participated in the global tournament.

With this 30th match, Messi widens the gap on his pursuers. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo occupies second place with 26 matches played, while France's Kylian Mbappé, who already has 18 appearances despite his young age, could one day approach this mark.

But this new record isn't the only feat achieved by the Argentinian world champion. At 39, the striker, with 203 caps and 124 goals for the Albiceleste, continues to rack up historic performances. Against Cape Verde, he also found the back of the net, extending his streak of consecutive World Cup matches with at least one goal to eight, an absolute record in the competition's history.

Before scoring against Cape Verde, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had already found the net in matches against Jordan, Austria, Algeria, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Australia. This exceptional consistency testifies to his undiminished influence at the highest level.

As the round of 16 approaches, Lionel Messi confirms that he remains one of the key architects of Argentina's ambitions. Match after match, the Albiceleste captain adds to an already exceptional list of achievements and further cements his status as the greatest player in football history.