Qatar 2022: Records Messi can break in FIFA World Cup final

Lionel Messi will have another chance to win the biggest prize of his career on Sunday (December 18), when Argentina and France face off in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final.

Messi will have the opportunity to break multiple individual records during the final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium and attempt to win the title.

The legendary 35-year-old footballer has been on fire in Qatar. He is largely considered the best of all time. On the lists of top goal scorers and main contributors, he is unrivaled.

The PSG star has scored at least once in five of the team’s six games this season. He has assisted on three more. The South Americans are looking to avenge their Round of 16 loss to France in the final and finally win a FIFA World Cup after 36 years.

Along with trying to win the World Cup, Messi has a chance to set a number of records in the final. In the championship match, the Argentine legend has a shot at seven different records.

Most matches in FIFA World Cup history

Messi, who first appeared in a World Cup competition for Argentina in 2006, has already featured in 25 World Cup games. If he plays in the final, which he surely will, he would surpass Pele as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. Lothar Matthaus, a former Germany World Cup winner, has also made it to five World Cups, tying him for the record.

Most minutes played in the FIFA World Cup

Messi has played 2,194 minutes in the 25 matches played so far at the World Cup. It is the second most of any player in the tournament’s history. On Sunday, he will break the record held by legendary Italy defender Paolo Maldini if he plays for 24 additional minutes in the summit showdown. The legendary AC Milan player logged 2,217 minutes on the field.

Most Wins

Messi has won a total of 16 FIFA World Cup matches, and if Argentina wins the final, it would be Messi’s 17th win in the FIFA World Cup. Also, he will tie for the joint most wins by any player in World Cup history. Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose has won the most FIFA World Cup matches (17) to date, and Messi can match that total.

Most Assists

Messi now holds the record for most assists in a single World Cup tournament with nine. He can surpass Pele’s mark with two assists in the championship game. Messi currently ranks second all-time with nine assists in FIFA World Cup history, behind only Pele’s ten.

Multiple Golden Balls

Messi could not win the 2014 FIFA World Cup but was named the tournament’s best player and given the Golden Ball for his efforts. He is also a strong contender for this year’s Golden Ball. If he succeeds, he will set a record as the only player in the 92-year history of the World Cup to win the Golden Ball more than once.

Golden Boot & Ball

Messi now leads the 2022 FIFA World Cup scoring charts with five goals scored in six games. If he wins the Golden Boot, given to the tournament’s top scorer, he’ll join an elite group of only seven other footballers to win both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the same World Cup. He will join the likes of Brazil’s Leônidas da Silva (1938), Garrincha (1962), and Ronaldo (1998 Golden Ball, 2002 Golden Boot), Italy’s Paolo Rossi (1982) and Salvatore Schillaci (1990), and Argentina’s Mario Kempes (1986) on the short list of players to win both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot twice in their careers (1978). Even though Ronaldo won both the Golden Boot and the Ball in the same edition, six other players also did so.