Lusail (Qatar), 18 December (EFE). Argentina striker Lionel Messi on Sunday set a new singles record in World Cup history as the most capped player in the tournament. With 26, passing German Lothar Matthaus in this Sunday’s final against France at Lucel Stadium.
For the German midfielder after reaching 25 points in the semi-final against Croatia last Tuesday, it was already written that he would go beyond that this Sunday in his twenty-sixth and his last match at the World Cup; Since his debut on June 16, 2006 against Serbia (6-0) until this Sunday at the age of 18 years and 357 days.
Germany since 2006, when he played three doubles; South Africa 2010, with five; Brazil 2014, with seven, and Russia 2018, with four, followed by Qatar by 2022, with seven. 26 matches. peerless.
In this edition, Messi has surpassed Lothar Matthaus’ 25 games with Germany (two in Spain 1982, seven in Mexico 1986, seven in Italy 1990, five in the United States 1994 and four in France 1998); German Miroslav Klose’s 24; Italian Paolo Maldini’s 23; 21 Diego Armando Maradona of Argentina, German Uwe Seeler and Pole Władysław Zmud and 20 Brazilian Cafu, German Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Pole Grzegorz Lato and Javier Mascherano of Argentina.
— Classification of players with most matches in the World Cup:
.1. Lionel Messi (Argentina): 26 matches (3 in 2006, 5 in 2010, 7 in 2014, 4 in 2018 and 7 in 2022).
, Lothar Matthaus (Germany): 25 games (2 in 1982, 7 in 1986, 7 in 1990, 5 in 1994 and 4 in 1998).
.3. Miroslav Klose (Germany): 24 games (7 in 2002, 7 in 2006, 5 in 2010 and 5 in 2014).
.4. Paolo Maldini (Italy): 23 games (7 in 1990, 7 in 1994, 5 in 1998 and 4 in 2002).
.5. Diego Armando Maradona (Argentina): 21 games (5 in 1982, 7 in 1986, 7 in 1990 and 2 in 1994).
, Uwe Seeler (Germany): 21 games (5 in 1958, 4 in 1962, 6 in 1966 and 6 in 1970).
, Władysław Zmuda (Poland): 21 games (7 in 1974, 6 in 1980, 7 in 1984 and 1 in 1986).
.8. Cafu (Brazil): 20 games (3 in 1994, 6 in 1998, 7 in 2002 and 4 in 2006).
, Philipp Lahm (Germany): 20 games (7 in 2006, 6 in 2010 and 7 in 2014).
, Grzegorz Lato (Poland): 20 games (7 in 1974, 6 in 1978 and 7 in 1982).
, Javier Mascherano (Argentina): 20 games (5 in 2006, 4 in 2010, 7 in 2014 and 4 in 2018).
, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany): 20 games (7 in 2006, 7 in 2010 and 6 in 2014).
