Lionel Messi equals Diego Maradona’s record, in the World Cup in Qatar

Messi ceelbra against Mexico.

Messi celebrates against Mexico.

The star scored a goal in the match against Mexico.

Lionel Messistarter this Saturday in the duel against Mexico, He reached 21 matches played in World Cups, which allows him to catch up with Diego Maradona as the Argentine player with the most matches played in the competition.

Messi equals Maradona

Messi debuted in the tournament in Germany-2006 and it has been in every edition since then. He arrived in Doha with 19 games played, three in 2006, five in 2010, seven in 2014 and four in 2018.

Add to this the first two for Argentina in 2022, against Saudi Arabia (2-1 defeat) and now against Mexico, both at the Lusail stadium.

Messi saves Argentina, with the goal that took the pressure off.

In the first game against the Saudis, Messi reached the figure of 20 duels in World Cups, equaling Javier Mascherano, whom he now leaves behind. If Messi plays on Wednesday in the third game of La Scaloneta, against Poland, he will already set a new national record by reaching 22.

In this way, he will get closer to the players who have played the most matches in World Cups in all of history. On this symbolic podium is led by the German Lothar Matthõus (25 between 1982 and 1998), the also German Miroslav Klose (24 between 2002 and 2014) and the Italian Paolo Maldini (23 between 1990 and 2014).

Maradona played his 21 World Cup matches between the four editions in which he participated, between 1982 and 1994, including the unforgettable one in Mexico-1986, where he led the Albiceleste to their second and so far last title in this competition. Messi had surpassed Maradona on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia as the Argentine player with the most World Cup final phases played, with five.

AFP