Messi sets historic records after Argentina reaches 2026 World Cup final
Lionel Messi has reached his third World Cup final and became the most productive player at a single tournament in 56 years.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Lionel Messi continues to rewrite football history after helping the Argentina national team qualify for the 2026 World Cup final. The 39-year-old forward has become just the sixth player in history to reach three World Cup finals.
He joins an elite group of players who have achieved this feat, including Pele, Cafu, Ronaldo, Pierre Littbarski, and Lothar Matthaus.
In addition, Messi became the first player since 1970 to record 12 goal contributions in a single World Cup tournament. During the competition held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the Argentine captain recorded 10 goals and 2 assists.
The last player to demonstrate such efficiency was the legendary West Germany forward Gerd Muller, who recorded 10 goals and three assists during the 1970 World Cup.