Lionel Messi don add another record to im already full cabinet of achievements. Di 38-year-old Argentine star become di first player ever to play for six different men’s World Cup tournaments, wen im take di pitch for Argentina opening match against Algeria for Kansas City, Missouri.
Di eight-time Ballon d’Or winner make history for im 200th appearance with di national team. Di record wey im break na one wey five other men hold before: Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, Antonio Carbajal, Andrés Guardado, Rafael Márquez from Mexico, and Lothar Matthäus from Germany. Ronaldo go equal di mark tomorrow wen im Portugal side face Congo DR for dia opening match.
Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa also make di sixth World Cup squad for dis tournament, but e no play for two of dose tournaments. Messi, wey already hold record for most World Cup appearances (27), surpass Lothar Matthäus during di 2022 final for Qatar. Im appearance against Algeria na im 27th World Cup match.
Di Inter Miami star no don confirm im plans, but im don hint say dis World Cup go be im last international tournament. Messi make im debut for di biggest stage as 18-year-old substitute, and e score for Argentina 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro for di group stage of di 2006 World Cup.
For di match against Algeria, Messi fire a wonder goal from outside di box for di 17th minute, opening scoring and matching Cristiano Ronaldo as di only two players to score for five different World Cups. Ronaldo score for 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022; Messi score for 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. Wit dat goal, Messi become di only footballer to score against 11 different opponents: Serbia, Mexico, Nigeria, Bosnia, Iran, Croatia, Australia, Netherlands, France, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria.
ESPN Global Research contribute to dis report.
