Lionel Messi has just been honored by FIFA as the player with the most appearances in World Cup history with 26 matches. The Argentine superstar is highly likely to further break this record at the 2026 World Cup.
Just a few days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, FIFA officially honored Lionel Messi as the player with the most appearances in the history of the World Cups, while the Argentine superstar stands before the opportunity to continue extending his record. On its official social media platforms, FIFA posted a special message dedicated to the Argentina captain: “The player with the most appearances in World Cup history? Lionel Messi with 26 appearances!”
This is an acknowledgment of one of the most impressive achievements Messi has set in his international playing career spanning more than two decades. According to FIFA statistics, the winner of 8 Ballon d’Ors has made a total of 26 appearances at World Cups, the most in the tournament’s history. Messi surpassed German legend Lothar Matthaus during his journey with Argentina to the title at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Previously, Matthaus held the record with 25 matches at World Cup finals.
Throughout his career, Messi has participated in 5 consecutive World Cups including 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. He scored 13 goals and provided 8 assists, while leading Argentina to the world championship in Qatar following a victory over France in a classic final.
Not stopping there, Messi has just been called up to the Argentina squad for the 2026 World Cup. This means that the star born in 1987 will continue to extend his record for the number of appearances at the planet’s biggest football festival. Notably, if he features in the tournament hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico, Messi will become one of the rare three players in history to have participated in six World Cups. This is a milestone that very few legendary players can reach, demonstrating the incredible endurance of the Argentina captain at the age of 39.
