World Cup: Messi's Message Before Taking To Field
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Although the World Cup has begun, fans will have to wait a few more days to see defending champions Argentina in action. Argentina will face Algeria on Wednesday morning in their first match of Group J. Before stepping onto the pitch for his final World Cup, Lionel Messi delivered a special message on social media.
On Instagram, the Argentine captain posted just two numbers and an emoji. Recalling his World Cup journey, he wrote in the caption only: "2006⚽2026." It seemed like an attempt to frame the beginning and the end of his World Cup chapter together.
Messi first took the field in the 2006 World Cup held in Germany. He has since played in the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups. He will take the field against Algeria to play his sixth World Cup, jointly holding the record with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ochoa.
Before stepping onto the pitch for his final World Cup, Messi went back 20 years. His 20-year journey on the World Cup stage, from 2006 to 2026, was captured in two numbers, with a football emoji between 2006 and 2026.
In this World Cup, Messi has the opportunity to bid farewell by setting several records. He has a chance to become the all-time leading goalscorer in tournament history, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose, who has 16 goals. Behind Klose are Brazil's Ronaldo Nazario (15 goals) and German legend Gerd Muller (14 goals). Messi currently shares fourth place with France's Just Fontaine, having scored 13 goals.
Along with goalscoring, Messi could also become the World Cup's all-time assist leader. He currently ranks second with 8 assists, while Brazilian legend Pelé tops the list with 10 assists.
Messi has played in two finals so far. To join the list of players with the most finals appearances, Messi will need to reach the final again. That would put him in the record books with three finals. Pelé (1958, 1962, 1970), Cafu (1994, 1998, 2002), Ronaldo (1994, 1998, 2002), Germany's Lothar Matthäus (1982, 1986, 1990), and Pierre Littbarski (1982, 1986, 1990) have all played in three finals.
Messi has already broken the record for most matches played in the World Cup, with 26. That number will increase in this tournament. The three players below him have long since retired: Lothar Matthäus (25), Miroslav Klose (24), and Paolo Maldini (23).
Additionally, Messi holds the record for most minutes played in World Cup history, with 2,300 minutes. If Messi goes all the way in the 2026 World Cup, this record will undoubtedly be broken as well.