Messi ended 36 years of waiting for the Argentine national team!
After 36 years of waiting, the Argentine national team "climbed" on the evening of December 18, 2022 (the day of Qatar's national holiday) to the top of the football with Leo Messi as his great star
After 36 (!) years of waiting, the Argentine national team "climbed" on the evening of December 18, 2022 (the day of Qatar's national holiday) to the top of the football... Everest. In the final of the World Cup, it overcame the resistance of national title holder France, which it defeated in the penalty shootout with 4-2, and celebrating the third title in its history (1978, 1986).
In... Lionel Messi's last dance at the World Cup, the "flea" received huge waves of adoration from the 50,000 Albiceleste fans in the stadium and... compensated them with the records he "broke" in his final "battle" Qatar vs. Bape's France.
Analytically
1. More appearances in World Cups.
As soon as Messi stepped on the pitch, he became the all-time leading record holder for the most appearances in a World Cup final. Making his 26th appearance in the competition, he surpassed Lothar Matthäus with 25 appearances.
The list of the 5 footballers with the most World Cup appearances:
Lionel Messi 26
Lothar Matthaus 25
Miroslav Klose 24
Paolo Cesare Maldini 23
Cristiano Ronaldo 22
2. The only footballer to score in all knockout matches
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar scored the first goal for his side in the top-flight clash and helped Argentina take the lead in the 23rd minute of the match. By scoring the goal, Messi became the only player in football history to score in every round of a competition. Messi found the net in the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
3. Most World Cup wins by a footballer
Argentina defeated France in a thrilling final that went to extra time and then a penalty shootout. By winning his 17th match at the competition, Messi became the joint holder of the record for most World Cup matches won with Germany's Miroslav Klose.
4. Most minutes played in World Cup history
Messi broke Italy legend Paolo Maldini's record of 2,217 minutes. Messi, who had played 2,194 minutes in the World Cup before the final, became the player with the most minutes after spending 23 minutes on the pitch.
Argentina's road to the top of the world:
1st Match: Argentina - Saudi Arabia 1-2
2nd Match: Argentina - Mexico 2-0
3rd Match: Argentina - Poland 0-2
Round of 16: Argentina - Australia 2-1
Quarter-finals: Argentina - Netherlands 4-3 on penalties (2-2 draw)
Semi-finals: Argentina - Croatia 3-0
Final: Argentina - France 4-2 on penalties (3-3 draw)
Messi's other records
Let's look at the career of the captain of Argentina, Lionel Messi, in numbers.
499 million: Followers on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram (more than 10 times the population of Argentina)
$120 million: Messi's estimated earnings for the 2022-23 season before taxes and agent fees, according to Forbes.
$26.60 million: Messi's estimated transfer value, according to Swiss research group CIES Football Observatory.
2,315: Minutes played in World Cups. No one has played more.
853: Matches at club level with Barcelona B, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain
701: Club goals with Barcelona B, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain
172: International entries
98: International goal
37: Collective trophies won
35: Age
26: World Cup Games (Overall Record)
19: Appearances as captain in World Cups -- record
17: Wins in World Cup matches (tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose). Does not include wins on penalties.
16 years: The difference between his first and last World Cup goal
13: World Cup goals (Argentine record)
11: Game MVP Awards (since 2002 when they started)
7: Golden Balls
6: Players have played in five World Cups (Messi, Lothar Mathews, Antonio Carbajal, Rafa Marquez, Andres Guardado and Cristiano Ronaldo)
6: Assists in the knockout phase of the World Cups
5: Appearances in World Cups
2: World Cup Finals
1: Copa America
1: World Cup Title
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