Messi on the Verge of 11 Records in the World Cup Final

Sports Desk: The FIFA World Cup, often called “The Greatest Show on Earth,” is nearing its conclusion. In Sunday’s final, defending champions Argentina will face European champions Spain in a showdown for the title. The clash between two football powerhouses is set to become one of the most anticipated World Cup finals ever. For Argentina captain Lionel Messi, the match could also be historic, as he stands on the brink of breaking or setting 11 remarkable records.

From simply taking the field in the final to scoring goals or lifting the trophy, almost every achievement could add another milestone to Messi’s legendary career.

Here are the 11 records Messi could achieve:

1. Oldest Outfield Player to Play in a World Cup Final

Messi will be 39 years and 25 days old on the day of the final. No outfield player in football history has appeared in a World Cup final at an older age. The overall record is held by Italy’s legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who played the 1982 World Cup final against West Germany at 40 years and 133 days. If Messi plays, he will become the oldest outfield player ever to appear in a World Cup final.

2. Third World Cup Final Appearance

After playing in the 2014 and 2022 finals, this will be Messi’s third World Cup final. Only Brazil’s legendary Cafu has previously appeared in three consecutive World Cup finals (1994, 1998, and 2002). Messi is set to become only the second player to achieve that feat.

3. First Captain to Lead a Team in Three World Cup Finals

Many legendary captains have led their nations to two World Cup finals. However, Messi would become the first player in history to captain his country in three World Cup finals.

4. First Captain to Lift Two World Cups

Several players have won two World Cups, but none has lifted the trophy twice as captain. If Argentina wins, Messi will become the first captain in history to win and lift the FIFA World Cup trophy on two occasions.

5. Oldest Goalscorer in a World Cup Final

Scoring in a World Cup final is one of football’s greatest achievements. If Messi scores against Spain, he will surpass Sweden’s Nils Liedholm, who scored in the 1958 final against Brazil at 35 years and 264 days, becoming the oldest goalscorer in World Cup final history.

6. Argentina’s Highest Goalscorer in a Single World Cup

Guillermo Stábile scored eight goals in the inaugural 1930 World Cup, a record that stood for 96 years as Argentina’s highest goal tally in a single tournament. Messi has already matched that total with eight goals. One more goal in the final would make him Argentina’s outright record-holder.

7. Joining the Elite Club of Double-Digit World Cup Scorers

Scoring 10 goals in a single World Cup is an exceptionally rare achievement. If Messi scores twice in the final, he will join the exclusive company of Just Fontaine (13), Sándor Kocsis (11), and Gerd Müller (10). He would also become the first player born outside Europe to reach that milestone.

8. Scoring in Two Different World Cup Finals

Messi scored in the 2022 World Cup final. If he scores again against Spain on July 19, he will become only the sixth player to score in two different World Cup finals, joining Vavá, Pelé, Paul Breitner, Zinedine Zidane, and Kylian Mbappé.

9. Most Goals by a Player from a World Cup-Winning Team

Ronaldo scored eight goals for Brazil during their victorious 2002 World Cup campaign. If Argentina wins the title and Messi scores at least once in the final, he will finish with nine goals, setting a new record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup by a player from the championship-winning team.

10. Most Goals in World Cup Final History

Kylian Mbappé currently holds the record with four goals in World Cup finals. If Messi scores twice, he will equal that record. A hat-trick would take him to five goals, making him the outright record-holder and only the second player after Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

11. Oldest Player to Win Back-to-Back World Cups

Winning consecutive World Cups is a rare accomplishment, previously achieved only by Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962). If Argentina successfully defends its title, Messi will become the oldest player ever to be part of back-to-back World Cup-winning teams, surpassing Brazil’s Nílton Santos, who was 37 years old when Brazil won consecutive titles in 1958 and 1962.