world cup 2022 messi

Aerial view of a mural depicting the Argentine football star Lionel Messi in Rosario, Argentina. Photo: Luis ROBAYO / AFP.

World Cup: All of the Lionel Messi stats that matter

If you love Lionel Messi World Cup stats, then you’ve stumbled upon the right article. Here are the best ones.

world cup 2022 messi

Aerial view of a mural depicting the Argentine football star Lionel Messi in Rosario, Argentina. Photo: Luis ROBAYO / AFP.

Lionel Messi will have one more shot at World Cup glory on Sunday.

GOODBYE? Messi responds to questions around whether this is his last World Cup


The Lionel Messi and WC stats that truly matter

  • Lionel Messi is the oldest man to score 5+ goals at a World Cup tournament.
  • Argentina have never lost a World Cup semifinal.
  • On Sunday, Messi play his 26th WC match, taking him out in front as the man with the most appearances in the tournament’s history.
  • Argentina’s 3-0 win over Croatia was only the second time from WC 1990 onwards that a semifinal has been won in 90 minutes by more than one goal (that one was won by six goals).
  • With 11 goals at World Cups, Messi goes above Gabriel Batistuta as La Albiceleste’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. 
  • This calendar year 2022, Messi has now played 50 matches for club and country, scoring 33 goals and providing 29 assists. 
  • With his goal and assist against Croatia, Messi is the first player to both score and assist in four separate WC matches since 1966.
  • Lionel Messi scored his first Argentina goal against Croatia in March 2006, on the same day that Luka Modrić made his international debut.

TOP Lionel Messi Tweets: Gavin Hunt, Teko Modise, Jamie Carragher and more

Watch Messi produce another World Cup masterclass
Messi produced another masterclass, including this amazing assist. Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)

MATCH REPORT: Record-breaking Lionel Messi sends Argentina to Sunday’s final

VIDEO: Watch that ridiculous Messi assist in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Croatia


Meanwhile, you can get more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game from James Freemantle

Also keep up on daily World Cup trivia via football stats nerd foodball_za.