Lionel Messi will he play the 2026 World Cup? “I don’t set dates or deadlines,” he said after the hat-trick scored in his Argentina’s 6-0 defeat of Bolivia. At almost 39 years old, the phenomenon from Rosario could try to confirm the title won in Qatar; a few months ago, the Inter Miami player was more cautious about the possibility of reaching the world championship event, but as time passes, his desire to try is increasing. Moreover, after having won two consecutive editions of the Copa America, winning two World Cups in a row could indisputably place him at the top of the football Olympus.
Messi could then chase two records. The former Barcelona player is already one of the players who have managed to play five consecutive editions of the World Cup; together with him there are Antonio Carbajal (Brazil 1950, Switzerland 1954, Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and England 1966), Rafael Márquez (Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018), Lothar Matthäus (Spain 1982, Mexico 1986, Italy 1990, United States 1994 and France 1998), Gianluigi Buffon (France 1998, Korea-Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014) and obviously Cristiano Ronaldo. No one has ever played six, a record that could also be tempting for the Portuguese ace.
World Cup goals record: Messi currently has 13; he will therefore need three goals to equal the record held by the German Miroslav Klose, world champion with Germany in 2014 and scorer of 16 goals in total. Messi must also surpass the German Gerd Müller (14) and the Brazilian Ronaldo (15).