This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
In our series on FIFA ™ World Cup records, we look at the player who has played the most matches in the competition.
“What a player! What a star! The way he managed to lead Argentina to victory, all at 35, is incredible. For me, the millennium player is Messi. »»
During Qatar 2022, Lionel Messi broke the record for the number of matches played in the FIFA World Cup ™, previously owned by Lothar Matthäus. If the latter could easily blame the Argentinian to have exceeded him, it is not, on the contrary.
By participating in the final against France at the Lusail stadium (Argentina victory 3-3 AP, 4 tab at 2), Messi officially relegated the German and his record of 26 matches in the flagship football competition, which he could boast since 1998 and his fourth quarter of final in five editions.
Messi’s career in the World Cup was not just a long, quiet river. The victory of Albiceleste against France therefore had a very special flavor for the Pulga which, in addition to the record for appearances, finally won the coveted trophy, thus entering the legend of world football.
“(Messi is) a huge player,” Matthäus said to the German daily Bild. “He deserves it because, thanks to his qualities, he gave a lot of joy to all football enthusiasts around the world, including me. He has been delighting us for almost 18 years! »»
Messi’s adventure began in Germany in 2006, at the age of 18 and 358 days, when he entered the game in the 6-0 victory in Argentina against Serbia and Monténégro. Under the eyes of the legend of Diego Maradona, seated in the stands, it only took him three minutes to serve perfectly Hernán Crespo and ten more to open his personal counter, which makes him the sixth youngest scorer in the World Cup, behind Dimitri Sychev, Nicolae Kovacs, Michael Owen, Manuel Rosas and Pelé.
Holder against the Netherlands in the last group match, he then replaced Javier Saviola at the very end of the meeting against Mexico, in the round of 16. Despite a goal canceled for offside, the jewel of FC Barcelona consoled itself with a qualification for the quarter-finals. Staying on the bench, the Argentinian could not prevent his own defeat against Mannschaft (1-1 AP, 4 tab at 2).
During the 2010 edition in South Africa, Messi became an indisputable holder. He was thus aligned during the five games that the men of Maradona played, defeated once again by Germany in the quarterfinals (4-0). The competition has proven to be all the more disappointing for the Argentinian genius that he has scored any goal and only delivered one assist.
Determined to catch up, he found the way to the net four times and gave an offering during Brazil 2014, thus winning the Adidas Golden Ball of the competition. Messi played all seven matches and reached the final for the first time, where he lost (1-0 AP) against … Germany, of course.
He announced his international retirement after the 2016 American COPA, before finally returning to his decision for Russia 2018. A return which did not prove to be a winner, since Argentina was eliminated at the stage of the knockout stages, by France (4-3), with a single goal from the n ° 10 Argentin.
He then seemed to suffer from the comparison with the other Argentine legend, Maradona, who managed to lead his own to the final victory. He went to Qatar with the firm will to silence all his detractors. Author of seven goals, two of which in the final, Messi finally offered his third star to Albiceleste and became the most capped player in the competition. Has this end in apotheosis sounded the peak of her international career? Nothing is less certain …
