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Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi became the first man to play in six World Cup tournaments when he started for Argentina in their opening match against Algeria in Kansas City on Tuesday.
The historic start also marked the 38-year-old captain’s 200th international cap.
Messi’s long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, can equal this record if he takes the pitch for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday.
Although the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner previously announced that the 2022 tournament in Qatar would be his last, he reversed his decision after leading Argentina to the title.
He subsequently finished as the top scorer in the South American qualifiers to secure his place at the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The Inter Miami forward enters the tournament in spectacular form, having scored 13 goals in 16 Major League Soccer games this year.
With his appearance on Tuesday, Argentina’s all-time top scorer joins Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa as the only three players in football history to reach the 200-cap milestone.
