Lionel Messi Poised for Historic Sixth World Cup Appearance

On June 16 at 9 p.m. ET, Lionel Messi will embark on a remarkable journey as he represents Argentina in his sixth World Cup, facing Algeria in Kansas City. At 38 years old, he is set to make history as the first player to participate in six separate World Cups, following his appearances in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo may join him a day later when Portugal competes.

Messi currently holds a Guinness World Record for the most minutes played in World Cup history, totaling 2,314 minutes. A detailed chart outlines every minute he has spent on the field during these tournaments, with each tournament represented as a distinct line showcasing the minutes played in individual matches.

Messi's World Cup journey began spectacularly in 2006 when he came off the bench to score and assist in a 6-0 triumph over Serbia and Montenegro. However, he faced challenges in subsequent tournaments. In 2010, he managed only one assist across five matches and had to wait until 2014 to score again, netting four goals in the group stage before Argentina ultimately lost to Germany in the final.

In the 2018 World Cup, Messi scored once and provided two assists, but Argentina was eliminated by France in the Round of 16. The 2022 tournament marked a triumphant return for Messi, as he led Argentina to its third title, scoring seven goals and assisting three times, ultimately earning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player despite missing out on the Golden Boot to Kylian Mbappe.

As Messi prepares for the upcoming World Cup, Argentina is currently viewed as a strong contender, sitting tied for the fifth-highest odds to win, according to BetMGM. While Messi may no longer be at his peak, he has demonstrated his prowess with 12 goals in 14 matches this season for Inter Miami in MLS.