Argentina on Sunday beat France on penalties to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as Lionel Messi records yet another World Cup feat after he started the 2022 Qatar final game.
Messi is considered one of the best players in history and continues to break records on both the domestic and international stage at the age of 35.
The forward has won a record seven Ballon d’Or awards and lifted 11 league titles and four Champions Leagues during his remarkable career.
Messi made his 1,000th competitive appearance in the knockout stages in Qatar and broke another record when he started the 2022 final against defending champions France.
Messi made his 26th World Cup appearance in the final at the Lusail Stadium, breaking the record previously held by Germany legend Lothar Matthaus for the most World Cup games by a male player.
Messi equalled and surpassed the Argentina record – which belonged to Diego Maradona – earlier in the competition, while he surpassed Rafa Marquez to become the player with the most World Cup appearances as captain.
Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo has played four fewer World Cup games than the Argentinian superstar.
Messi, who has scored five goals and made three assists during Argentina’s World Cup run, is one of only six men to play in five different World Cups.
Messi’s displays in Qatar have led many – including former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney – to hail him as the greatest player of all time.
Rooney told The Times: ‘In 2012, I wrote the following on Twitter: “Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.”
‘On Wednesday morning, after watching him lead Argentina to the World Cup final with a masterclass against Croatia, I retweeted it with the words: “Nothing has changed.”
Messi, who has scored five goals and made three assists during Argentina’s World Cup run, is one of only six men to play in five different World Cups.
Messi’s displays in Qatar have led many – including former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney – to hail him as the greatest player of all time.
Rooney told The Times: ‘In 2012, I wrote the following on Twitter: “Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.”
‘On Wednesday morning, after watching him lead Argentina to the World Cup final with a masterclass against Croatia, I retweeted it with the words: “Nothing has changed.”