Messi – World Cup Winning Moments Captured

In the 2022 World Cup final, Messi was instrumental in his side’s victory, scoring twice and netting a penalty in the shootout.

The 35-year-old Argentinian also tops the assists charts with three to sit alongside Harry Kane (England), Antoine Griezmann (France) and Bruno Fernandes (Portugal).

For many, the question – who is the greatest player of all time, Messi or his longtime rival and five-time Ballon D’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo – the answer is finally in the open.

The Portuguese superstar, who has never won the tournament, was benched for his team’s games against Switzerland and Morocco after scoring in a fifth straight World Cup.

Messi made his international debut in 2005 after winning the FIFA World Youth Championship that year. At the 2006 World Cup, he became the youngest Argentinian player to play and score.

Since then, he has joined his compatriot Diego Maradona as a footballing icon both at home and abroad.

• International caps: 172
• International goals: 98
• World Cup appearances: 5
• World Cup matches played: 26 (He is now the player with the most World Cup appearances)
• World Cup goals: 13 (a record for Argentina)
• World Cup finals: 2 (2014, 2022)
• World Cup 2022 goals: 7
• World Cup 2022 assists: 3 (Messi is the only player to register an assist in five World Cups)
• World Cup 2022 Man of the Match awards: 5 (11 overall in World Cups, more than any other player)
• Other International honours: Copa America (2021), CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions (2022), Summer Olympics (2008), FIFA World Youth Championship (2005)

Messi’s individual honors

• Ballon d’Or: 7
• World Cup Golden Ball award: 2
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 1
• The Best FIFA Men’s Player: 1
• European Golden Shoe: 6
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2
• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 1
• Argentina’s Footballer of the Year: 14

Messi’s club level honors

Messi joined Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of 13 and spent much of his professional career at the Catalan club.

He is Barcelona’s top scorer and has made the most appearances for the club, with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.

Messi won 35 trophies at Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, three UEFA Super Cups, seven Copa del Rey crowns, and three FIFA Club World Cups.

In 2021, Messi moved to the French club PSG, where he scored 23 goals and recorded 29 assists in 53 appearances. He won the Ligue 1 title with the club in the 2021-22 season and the French Super Cup in July 2022.